Psychoneuroendocrinology April 2021 PMID 33611134

Working memory from pregnancy to postpartum: Do women really change?

Sara Pieters, Bonnie E Brett, Roseriet Beijers, Roy P C Kessels, Carolina de Weerth

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Mentions

Peak: 8 in Apr 2021

across 3 sources since Apr 2021

Extended reach

22,143

potential audience

Total likes

Video views

Mentions per month

Apr 2021 – May 2025

Where it's discussed

X / Twitter11 posts
YouTube2 videos
Facebook2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall reactions reflect a mix of agreement with the study's conclusions, interest sparked by questions about cognitive changes in both women and men, and some engagement with the broader implications, as seen in comments like 'Can dads get pregnancy brain?' which indicates curiosity and recognition of the study's relevance. The tone is generally inquisitive and supportive, emphasizing the importance of understanding cognition during pregnancy.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions seem to accept the article's findings that there are no major cognitive declines during pregnancy, as shown by positive reactions and support for the study's conclusions.

InterestHigh interest

The topic clearly captures interest, evidenced by comments about 'pregnancy brain' and curiosity about whether dads experience similar changes, indicating engagement with cognitive aspects of pregnancy.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts reference the research methods and implications, such as questioning whether 'pregnancy brain' is real and mentioning the importance of these findings for understanding postpartum cognition.

ImpactModerate impact

Some comments suggest this research could influence perceptions or medical advice regarding pregnancy and cognition, hinting at a modest but meaningful impact.

Abstract in brief

The study investigated whether women experience changes in working memory (WM) from pregnancy to postpartum, considering hormonal fluctuations, sleep deprivation, and practice effects, by comparing mothers and fathers over time.
Results showed that both mothers and fathers performed similarly on WM tests at both time points and improved with practice, suggesting there were no significant declines in mothers' WM after accounting for practice effects.
These findings challenge previous research indicating cognitive declines during pregnancy, highlighting the importance of control groups and practice effects, and also raise questions about potential cognitive changes in men during the same period.

Read the full abstract

All mentions

Neural Basis of Mommy Brain: Brain Adaptations During Motherhood

Women experience significant brain changes during the transition into motherhood, as shown by recent neuroimaging studies. The article reviews longitudinal MRI studies of first-time parents and explores current…

Update Forschung · May 22, 2025 50 views

Neuroplasticity in Women's Brains During and Post-Pregnancy

How does a woman's brain change during and after pregnancy? This video explores significant brain changes observed in first-time mothers, including lower cortical volumes and varying recovery patterns based on…

Update Forschung · May 22, 2025 12 views

Ayumi :)

@ayumin_Mii · X

May 8, 2025 · 1 like · 3,704 followers View post →

Carolina de Weerth

@WeerthDe · X

RT @BRCnijmegen: Can dads get “pregnancy brain”

Aug 27, 2021 · 1 share · 236 followers View post →

Baby & Child Research Center

@BRCnijmegen · X

Can dads get “pregnancy brain”

Aug 26, 2021 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,201 followers View post →

Carmine M. Pariante

@CarminePariante · X