Why “mom brain” is actually a good thing

If you’ve ever experienced “mom brain” or “baby brain,” you aren’t alone—80% of pregnant women report feeling more forgetful or scattered while they’re expecting. But new science is reshaping how we should think about it. More than just a time of mental fogginess, motherhood can be a time of remarkable, positive neural transformation.

Your brain, remodeled

Recent studies indicate that mothers’ brains change more during pregnancy than at any other time during adult life. One major part of those changes is reflected in a loss of brain volume—the cortex actually gets smaller. This may sound concerning, but the opposite is likely true: Researchers believe that the brain undergoes a fine-tuning process that helps prepare you to empathize with your child, anticipate their needs, and bond emotionally. Just consider it a sleek upgrade 🙃

Protection against aging 

Motherhood’s benefits for the brain may last well beyond the baby years. Comparing the brains of mothers and non-mothers, scientists have found that moms have younger-looking brain structures in middle age and experience less age-related brain decline later in life.

Though the science is still unfolding, some researchers believe that the challenges of parenting may act as a daily mental workout, helping mothers maintain lifelong brain health.

Learn more about the research

Davies, S. J., Lum, J. A., Skouteris, H., Byrne, L. K., & Hayden, M. J. (2018). Cognitive impairment during pregnancy: a meta‐analysis. Medical Journal of Australia, 208(1), 35-40.

Orchard, E. R., Rutherford, H. J., Holmes, A. J., & Jamadar, S. D. (2023). Matrescence: lifetime impact of motherhood on cognition and the brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 27(3), 302-316.

Orchard, E. R., Voigt, K., Chopra, S., Thapa, T., Ward, P. G., Egan, G. F., & Jamadar, S. D. (2023). The maternal brain is more flexible and responsive at rest: effective connectivity of the parental caregiving network in postpartum mothers. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 4719.

Orchard, E. R., Ward, P. G., Chopra, S., Storey, E., Egan, G. F., & Jamadar, S. D. (2021). Neuroprotective effects of motherhood on brain function in late life: a resting-state fMRI study. Cerebral Cortex, 31(2), 1270-1283.

Paternina-Die, M., Martínez-García, M., Martín de Blas, D., Noguero, I., Servin-Barthet, C., Pretus, C., … & Carmona, S. (2024). Women’s neuroplasticity during gestation, childbirth and postpartum. Nature Neuroscience, 27(2), 319-327.

Pawluski, J. L., Hoekzema, E., Leuner, B., & Lonstein, J. S. (2022). Less can be more: Fine tuning the maternal brain. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 133, 104475.
Rotondi, V., Allegra, M., Kashyap, R., Barban, N., Sironi, M., & Reverberi, C. (2024). Enduring maternal brain changes and their role in mediating motherhood’s impact on well-being. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 16608.