Maternal Neuroplasticity: Understanding Brain Changes with Perinatal Depression and Anxiety in Women

Abstract

The transition to parenthood is a unique period of adulthood during which the brain undergoes profound and rapid changes, particularly in birthing mothers. This transition is also associated with a risk of developing mental illness, likely due to intersections among the neurobiological changes and a host of psychosocial factors including one’s history of mental illness and lack of adequate support systems for parents. Emerging evidence indicates that perinatal depression and anxiety are associated with distinct neural alterations that overlap with the brain areas also involved in caregiving. Thus, there is a critical need to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying perinatal mental illness for both maternal and child wellbeing. The goals of this review are to highlight key findings from current research on the ways in which human brain function and structure are associated with (1) perinatal depression, (2) perinatal anxiety, and (3) treatments aimed at promoting parental mental health. Advances in understanding the neuroplasticity associated with perinatal depression and anxiety will inform the development of targeted interventions and treatments aimed at supporting parental wellbeing, promoting healthy parent–infant relationships, and improving peripartum brain health.