Cognitive reorganization during pregnancy and the postpartum period: an evolutionary perspective.
Where the non-human animal research investigating reproduction-induced cognitive reorganization has focused on neural plasticity and adaptive advantage in response to the demands associated with pregnancy and parenting, human studies have primarily concentrated on pregnancy-induced memory decline. The current review updates Henry and Rendell's 2007 meta-analysis, and examines cognitive reorganization as the result of reproductive experience from an adaptationist perspective. Investigations of pregnancy-induced cognitive change in human females may benefit by focusing on areas, such as social cognition, where a cognitive advantage would serve a protective function, and by extending the study duration beyond pregnancy into the postpartum period.
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. andermv@mcmaster.ca
Marla V
MV
Anderson
Mel D
MD
Rutherford
D000328:Adult; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*