A longitudinal multimodal investigation of postpartum neuroplasticity and the attendant risk and modulatory factors

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Natalya Chechko; Dr. Susanne Nehls
• Subject Area: Biological Psychiatry
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 512021469

This revised proposal by first-time applicant Susanne Stickel involves a multimodal longitudinal study of maternal brain development in the postpartum period. The aim is to create an interdisciplinary and correlative model of postpartum neuroplasticity describing risk and modulating factors as well as the effects of neuroplasticity on infant attachment, maternal cognition and mood. In a pilot study, we have already been able to describe initial results on changes in brain structures after childbirth. However, other previous studies as well as our pilot study leave important questions unanswered due to certain limitations. In the proposed study, we therefore want to investigate how structural and functional neuroplasticity develops in the postpartum period, whether neuroplasticity contributes to maternal behavior and cognition, which modulating factors contribute to neuroplasticity, and what risk this poses to maternal health. To answer these questions, we are proposing a longitudinal and multimodal MRI study of postpartum primiparous women with healthy pregnancies. Participants will undergo MRI examinations immediately after delivery (1-4 days postpartum) and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Specific temporal milestones of the adaptive processes of brain structure (gray and white matter), function and connectivity after childbirth will be examined. To answer the other questions, maternal-infant attachment, cognition, blood parameters (estradiol, progesterone), cumulative hair cortisol, physical activity, and mood, among others, will be examined. To obtain a comparison with the brain before pregnancy, a healthy female control group that has never been pregnant will be studied. We believe that with this interdisciplinary project (psychiatry and gynecology) we will be able to present a model of the maternal brain in which clinical, psychological and neurobiological parameters will be correlated. The first applicant Susanne Stickel will also be able to expand her own field of research and develop her scientific expertise with this project.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants