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A UC Irvine researcher, Liz Chrastil, underwent 26 MRI brain scans before, during, and after pregnancy to study the phenomenon of "mommy brain." Her research, published in Nature Neuroscience, revealed a 4% decrease in gray matter volume and changes in white matter structure. While the long-term implications are unclear, the study highlights the lack of research on brain changes during pregnancy and paves the way for larger-scale studies to investigate potential links to postpartum depression and maternal care.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.