Mommy Brain Revisited

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I read our viewpoint in JAMA Neurology titled "It's time to rebrand 'Mommy Brain'" published Feb 6, 2023 and authored by Dr Clare McCormack, Dr Bridget Callaghan and myself. 

We also talk about how we are rebranding 'Mommy Brain'. 

For the print version of the viewpoint see:  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2801288

Citation: McCormack C, Callaghan BL, Pawluski JL. It’s Time to Rebrand “Mommy Brain”. JAMA Neurol. Published online February 06, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.5180

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Margaret Bublitz, a Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, and Medicine, in the Department of Psychiatry, at the Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University. 

We talk about her research on how child maltreatment early in life can modify the maternal brain in human mothers. We also talk about the need to support mothers, in general, and to talk more about the reality of motherhood. Such an interesting one you won’t want to miss!

For more information about Dr. Bublitz and her research see:

https://www.brown.edu/public-health/mindfulness/people/margaret-bublitz-phd

Publication details: Bublitz MH, Swain J, Lustig S, Barthelemy C, DeYoung L, Dickstein D. Maternal History of Childhood Maltreatment and Brain Responses to Infant Cues Across the Postpartum Period. Child Maltreat. 2022 Sep 24:10775595221128952. doi: 10.1177/10775595221128952. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36154501.

On this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited talk with Emma Jane Unsworth, British writer and bestselling author. We talk about her memoir After the Storm: Postnatal Depression and the Utter Weirdness of New Motherhoodand what she did to prepare for her second pregnancy and postpartum experience.  This podcast episode is part of a collaboration with InSPIre the Mind – a digital magazine – where we have been doing a series on Maternal Mental Health. Listen to the podcast, read the book and check out the maternal mental health series. All are musts.

For more on Emma Jane Unsworth’s book After the Storm: Postnatal Depression and the Utter Weirdness of New Motherhood see: https://www.waterstones.com/book/after-the-storm/emma-jane-unsworth/9781788166553

You can read the Maternal Mental Health series here: https://www.inspirethemind.org/our-series

On this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Prof Carmine Pariante, a psychiatrist and professor at King's College London. This episode is part of a collaboration with InSPIre the Mind – a digital magazine – where we are doing a series of blogs on maternal mental illness. Over the next month check out stories from the series at : https://www.inspirethemind.org/our-series

In this episode we talk about the different mental illnesses that can occur during the perinatal period, the causes for these illnesses, and the need to improve our support to those who birth the next generation.

You can read the InSPIre the Mind Maternal Mental Illness series here: https://www.inspirethemind.org/our-series

For more about Prof Carmine Pariante see: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/professor-carmine-pariante

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Amanda Kentner a Full Professor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the USA. We talk about her recent research published at eNeuro on the important role that enrichment can play in parenting and development. Don’t miss this episode on cutting edge research in behavioral neuroscience. So interesting!

Download the publication here: https://www.eneuro.org/content/9/4/ENEURO.0148-22.2022

For more information about Prof. Kentner’s research see https://www.kentnerlab.org/

Citations: DeRosa H, Caradonna SG, Tran H, Marrocco J, Kentner AC. Milking It for All It's Worth: The Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Maternal Nurturance, Lactation Quality, and Offspring Social Behavior. eNeuro. 2022 Aug 25;9(4):ENEURO.0148-22.2022. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0148-22.2022. PMID: 35995560.

Follow @dr.jodi_pawluski on instagram for more on how the brain changes with parenting. 

https://www.jodipawluski.com/

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Bridget Callaghan, an Assistant Professor at UCLA, about recent research she’s done on memory during pregnancy. Love this research! We talk about “baby brain”, hippocampal-dependent memory changes during pregnancy – what the data shows, how we need to think about memory and motherhood, and where research needs to go to understand memory changes during the perinatal period in birthing and non-birthing parents.

For more about her research see: https://brainandbodylab.psych.ucla.edu/

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Ruth Feldman, the Simms-Mann Professor of Developmental Social Neuroscience at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzlia with joint appointment at Yale Child Study Center. We talk about her recent research on neural synchrony and how maternal cues can aid in neural synchrony between strangers and infants. We also talk about the importance of understanding brain changes with perinatal mental illness and her ongoing research on the parental brain. 

Don’t miss this episode on cutting edge research from a leader in the field!

For more information about Dr. Feldman’s research see https://ruthfeldmanlab.com/

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. James Rilling a Professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University in the USA. We talk about his research on brain changes in human fathers. So cool! We also talk the interplay between oxytocin, testosterone, dad brain changes as well as tradeoffs between parenting and mating and more! Don’t miss this episode and share it with a dad near you.

For more information about Dr. Rilling’s research see: http://anthropology.emory.edu/home/people/faculty/rilling.html

For more about me see www.jodipawluski.com

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Siobhain O’Mahony a Senior Lecturer at University College Cork, Ireland. We talk about the the Brain-Gut axis (or axes) and the role of the gut microbiome in pregnancy and postpartum. We also talk about the role that stress can play on this system. She updates us on how birth mode may affect the developing microbiome in infants - something that's been in the news a lot the past few years - and we talk about practical ways to mind our microbiome. We could have talked all day! 

For more information about Dr. O’Mahony and her research: http://publish.ucc.ie/profiles/C003/somahony 

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Ann-Marie de Lange a Maitre-Assistant Ambizione FNS (Assistant Professor) at the Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, l'Universite de Lausanne, Switzerland. We talk about her research on motherhood and brain-aging in middle aged women. We also talk about the importance of understanding the female brain throughout life, not only in the context of motherhood but also with menopause and aging. And, no, you don’t have to parent to have an amazing brain. Don’t miss this episode on the brain and women’s health!

For more information about Dr. de Lange’s research click here https://www.unil.ch/lren/home/menuinst/teams-science/femilab---womens-brain-health.html

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Marquette University in the USA. We talk about her research on sociocultural stressors and maternal mental health in Latinx populations in the US. We talk about the impact of systemic racism and microaggressions on pre- and post-natal maternal mental health and how these factors affect physiological health. We also talk about how she is using community-engaged research to address perinatal mental health disparities in Latina women and their children. 

For more information about Dr. D'Anna-Hernandez's research listen now. You can also contact her at https://www.marquette.edu/psychology/directory/kimberly-danna-hernandez.php

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Helena Rutherford an Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center in the USA. We talk about her research using EEG (brain waves) to understand brain changes in pregnancy, how they predict postpartum outcomes, the role of reproductive experience on the brain and how dad's brain changes too. We also talk about the importance of understanding the parental brain in order to improve parenting outcomes. Don’t miss this episode! For more information about Dr. Rutherford's research see https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/helena_rutherford/ .

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Katherine M. Sharkey, an Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry & Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University in the USA. We talk about her research on sleep in motherhood and how it is related to maternal mood disorders and breastfeeding. She also does some myth busting: Is poor sleep in pregnancy preparing you for the postpartum? Should you sleep when baby sleeps? Are new dads sleeping more? We talk a lot about getting our babies and kids to sleep but in this podcast it is all about parent’s sleep – how important it is and how to improve it.  You won’t want to miss this one!

For more information about Dr. Sharkey and her research click here.

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Aya Dudin, a PhD Candidate in Neuroscience, supervised by Dr. Geoffrey Hall, at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We talk about her research on the neurobiology of Postpartum Depression and how it differs from that of Major Depression. We focus our discussion on her research in the Amygdala but we also talk about treatments for PPD, the importance of translational research to understand the uniqueness of maternal mental illnesses and the exciting role the gut-brain axis may play as a target for treatment for these disorders.

For more information about Aya Dudin’s research click here.

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Larry Young, a William P. Timmie Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the School of Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. We talk about his research on the neuroscience of oxytocin and bonding. So interesting! We also talk about oxytocin’s role in the maternal brain, mental illness and child development. Hearing about this ancient maternal hormone is a must.

For more information about Dr. Larry Young and his research click here.  

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Prof Paola Dazzan, Professor of Neurobiology of Psychosis, Vice Dean (International) at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK. We talk about her research investigating the neurobiology of Postpartum Psychosis. So important! We talk about the biological basis of this debilitating disorder, treatment options and aims for future research.

For more information about Prof Dazzan’s and her research click here.  

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Catherine Dulac, Higgins Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University and Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the USA. We talk about her research on neurons expressing galanin in the MPOA and their essential role in parenting behaviors in females and males. So interesting! We also talk about the potential role of these neurons in maternal mental illness and whether or not we should be using the word 'instinct' when we talk about parental behaviour. 

For more information about Dr. Dulac's research click here.  

Hereis a direct link to her publications.  

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Millie Rincón-Cortés, a Research Assistant Professor in Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh in the USA. We talk about her research investigating VTA dopamine neuron activity in the postpartum maternal brain and its role in normative changes in postpartum mood and anxiety. We also talk about maternal separation from offspring, parental leave duration, and how much we need to know about how these effects can impact the maternal brain. Don’t miss this one!

For more information about Dr. Rincón-Cortés clickhere.  

Here is a direct link to their publications.  

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Pilyoung Kim, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Denver in Colorado where she heads the Family and Child Neuroscience Lab. We jump right in to talk about our experiences with Mommy Brain and then we talk stress and motherhood. Dr Kim’s research investigates how life stress, such as socioeconomic status and poverty, affects the maternal brain and behavior. So important! We also talk about race, resilience, coping, cannabis, and the need for social policies to support mothers, and parents in general.

For more information about Dr. Kim’s research click here.  

Here is a direct link to her publications.

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Benedetta Leuner who is an Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University in the USA.  We talk about her research investigating the neuroimmune changes in the maternal brain. So important! We talk about microglia changes during pregnancy and the postpartum, their role in neuroplasticity, mechanisms behind their changes, and the potential role of neuroimmune changes in maternal mental illnesses such as Postpartum Depression.  We also talk about our experiences with ‘Mommy Brain’ – 😊 .

For more information about Dr. Leuner's research click here.  

Here is a direct link to her publications.  

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Winnie Orchard, a PhD candidate at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Her recent research focuses on parenthood and the aging brain in humans and she works under the supervision of Dr Sharna Jamadar. In this episode we talk about how parenting affects your brain and memory when you’re 70+ years old! We also talk about how these changes affect mothers and fathers differently and how the number of children you have may be related to these effects. So interesting!

Check out her Facebook page @maternalbrain

For more information on the team she is part of see link

Here is a direct link to her publications. 

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr James Swain, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University in New York State, USA. We talk about his nearly 20 years of research on the human maternal brain and his current research on how opioid use disorder can alter the maternal brain and potentially behavior. [When we talk about opioid use disorder we’re often talking about prescription medications.]

We also talk about the Mom Power intervention and how interventions like this can change our maternal brains for the better.

If you’re struggling with opioid use please reach out for support. You are not alone. Treatment can help. Talk to you health care provider today.

Click here for more information on the research of Dr. Swain.   

Click here for his current publications.

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Elseline Hoekzema, a senior neuroscientist at the Brain & Development Research Center, Leiden University, the Netherlands. We talk about her research investigating the effects of pregnancy on the human brain. Fascinating! We also talk about how amazing the maternal brain is, despite experiences with ‘mommy brain’ – and yes we both experienced it -, and to trust biology as it takes us through this transition into parenthood.

For more information on her research see link.

Here is a direct link to her publications.

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Oliver Bosch, Professor in the Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine at the University of Regensburg, Germany. We talk about his recent research on partner loss and the maternal brain in relation to corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). We also talk about so much more – how fascinating the maternal brain is as well as single parenthood, social support, pregnancy loss and how much we need to know about how stressful events can impact the parental brain.

For more information on his research see link. 

Here is a direct link to his publications.

Have questions or comments - let me know: www.jodipawluski.com

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Liisa Galea, Professor in the Department of Psychology and Centre for Brain Health at The University of British Columbia, Canada. We talk about her recent research on maternal experience and its effect on the aging hippocampus. We also talk about other effects of motherhood on ageing, menopause, and the lack of funding for women’s health research. Let’s support maternal health research!

For more information on her research see here. 

Here is a direct linkto her publications.

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Christian Broberger, Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Stockholm University, Sweden. We talk about his recent research on electrical activity of TIDA neurons and their role in lactation. We talk dopamine, prolactin and a bit about oxytocin. Very interesting!

For more information on his research see link. 

Here is a direct link to the publication we talk about. 

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Valerie Miller, MA, a PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology at Purdue University in the USA. We talk about her recent research on attention in mothers during the postpartum and how it may relate to feelings of Mommy Brain as well as mental health. We also talk about the important role that community may have on being a mom. 

For more information on her research see: https://cla.purdue.edu/directory/profiles/valerie-miller.html 

Here is a direct link to the publication we talk about,

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Professor Dave Grattan the Director of the Centre of Neuroendocrinology, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, New Zealand . We talk about his research on prolactin and motherhood.  Prolactin really is so much more than for lactation - It affects parental behaviors, mental health, food intake and so much more! Listen now, you don't want to miss this one. 

For more information on Prof Grattan's research see: https://www.otago.ac.nz/neuroendocrinology/research/dave-grattan.html

For a direct link to publications by Prof Grattan see: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bgrXFdoAAAAJ&hl=en

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Erica Glasper an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland at College Park, USA. We talk about her research on how fatherhood affects a dad's brain, particularly the hippocampus, and the importance of interacting with offspring on brain health.

For more information on her research see: https://psyc.umd.edu/facultyprofile/glasper/erica

Here is a direct link to publications by Dr Glasper.

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr. Susanna Carmona from the Neuroimaging Centre in the Laboratory for Medical Imaging at the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Maranon in Madrid, Spain. We talk about her recent research on brain changes during the transition to motherhood (matrescence) and how significant these changes are – as significant as during adolescence. We also talk about what this means, what more we need to know about the brain with motherhood, fatherhood, maternal mental illness and effects of pregnancy loss. So many questions need answers!

For more information on her research see: https://image.hggm.es/en/susana-carmona

Here is a direct link to the publication we talk about: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hbm.24513

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Bronwyn Graham an Associate Professor at School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales in Sydney Australia about her research on how motherhood impacts fear memories and fear extinction and the role that this may have for exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. We also talk a bit about living through the COVID pandemic and how important it is to ask for help if you are struggling.

See her publications here.  

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Professor Thierry Charlier at the Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset) at the Universitie de Rennes 1 (France) about his research on how glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides, such as Roundup, affect maternal behavior, brain and microbiome.

For more information on his research see: https://www.irset.org/interlocuteurs/charlier-thierry-0

For a direct link to this paper we discuss: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31066122

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Jamie Maguire an Associate Professor of Neuroscience in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University in the USA about her research on allopregnanolone, a neurosteroid, which formed the foundation for Zulresso (Sage Therapeutics) – the first unique treatment for Postpartum Depression. A great story from basic research in the maternal brain to clinical application.

For more information on Dr. Maguire’s research see: https://www.maguirelab.com/

For a direct link to her publications see: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=maguire+jamie

Questions, comments, suggestions - Get in touch www.jodipawluski.com / j.pawluski@gmail.com

In this episode of Mommy Brain Revisited I talk with Dr Joseph Lonstein a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University about his research on the neuroscience of postpartum anxiety and the importance of infant touch in modulating maternal feelings of anxiety.

For more information on his research see: https://neuroscience.natsci.msu.edu/directory/faculty/joseph-s-lonstein-phd/

For a direct link to his publications see: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=lonstein+JS

Questions, comments, suggestions - Get in touch www.jodipawluski.com

This episode is a brief introduction as to why I'm doing this podcast; Why we need to talk about what we know and what we don't know when it comes to brain changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period - in health and illness. 

I also ask my kids, ages 6 and 8, what they think happens to our brains when we become parents.  Apparently they aren't listening to me!

Music: All in my head - Luna Wave (via Soundstripe)