Israeli researchers: Motherhood alters brain functions

A recent study carried out by Israeli researchers showed that the experience of motherhood is caused by alterations in the brain functions that help mothers locate and communicate with their offspring, especially if they are in distress. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said the results provide insight into how neural changes in response to odors and sounds help maternal behaviors develop in mothers. "We know that distinct brain changes are linked with motherhood, " Dr. Adi Mizrahi, who conducted the research, said, "but the impact of these changes on sensory processing and the emergence of maternal behaviors are largely unknown." Mizrahi and his colleagues examined whether the primary auditory cortex -- a region in the brain that is involved in the recognition of sounds -- might serve to process the responses to their offspring's specific smell and voice. The research proved that the olfactory and auditory senses of female mice with their pups were triggered immediately after they gave birth, with especially strong responses to cries of distress. "These processes help to explain how changes in the cortex in the brain facilitate efficient detection of pups," Mizrahi said.