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Book Review: 'A Mother’s Brain' Explores Neuroscience of Motherhood

Neuroscientist Susana Carmona's book, 'A Mother’s Brain,' shifts focus to the profound neurological changes mothers experience during 'matrescence,' the period of becoming a mother.

The book details the intense reorganization of a woman's brain during matrescence, noting early studies on sculpted brain circuits, heightened social instincts, and potential resilience.

Carmona, a leading researcher in matrescence, covers scientific aspects like hormones, evolution, and brain networks, while also incorporating history, social constructs, and modern pressures.

The book highlights the massive hormonal shifts during pregnancy, with estrogen levels during gestation exceeding those accumulated over a woman's entire fertile life.

Carmona addresses the 'mommy brain' stereotype, explaining that while mothers may feel less mentally sharp, neurological studies show little decline, possibly due to sleep deprivation, attention shifts, or expectations.

The negative stereotype of 'mommy brain' can lead women to doubt their intelligence and withdraw from important life projects, impacting their self-perception and actions.

Carmona, drawing on her own experiences, emphasizes that motherhood is a deeply personal and core experience, integrating scientific findings with lived realities.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.