Neural and hormonal trajectories of depression risk in the transition to motherhood

• Applicant: Dr. Nora Moog
• Subject Area: Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 532239022

In humans and many other species, transition to motherhood or matrescence is associated with substantial physiological and behavioral changes. Pregnancy and the early postpartum period are also vulnerable times for maternal mental health, which may be a consequence of the physiological and behavioral changes associated with matrescence. Maternal mental health problems have important implications not only for the well-being of the mother, but also that of her child and can be the related to experiences of early adversity. Even though matrescence represents a monumental transition in a woman’s life with long-lasting physiological changes that affect a woman’s health over decades, pregnancy-induced plasticity of the maternal brain is massively understudied and there is no study to date investigating the neural and hormonal trajectories associated with depression risk. In the current proposal, I seek to address this important knowledge gap by establishing a cohort of preconception women to investigate the association between pregnancy-related neurobiological changes and depression risk as well as moderation of these associations by early adversity.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups