Neuroscientist explains whether ‘baby brain’ is real or just a myth (opens original article in a new tab)

A neuroscientist explains that while pregnancy causes real brain changes, the perceived memory and attention issues in new parents are likely due to sleep deprivation and cognitive overload rather than significant cognitive decline.

• Pregnancy causes structural brain changes including grey matter volume shifts and white matter strengthening
• New parents show no significant decline in memory or thinking compared to non-parents
• Sleep deprivation and cognitive load are more likely causes of 'baby brain' than brain restructuring
• Brain changes during pregnancy are long-lasting and linked to hormonal shifts
• The study suggests 'baby brain' is more about exhaustion and stress than actual cognitive decline
• Grey matter changes may reflect brain fine-tuning for motherhood rather than damage