Emmy Noether Group Plasticity of Matrescence (PlasMa)

The research program of the Emmy Noether Group "Plasticity of Matrescence (PlasMa)" is dedicated to investigating neurobiological changes that occur during the transition to motherhood (matrescence) and their connection to depressive symptoms, particularly in the context of early life stress. The research program aims to identify risk factors for peripartum depression, which can significantly affect not only the mother's well-being but also the development and health of her child.

Pregnancy and the early postpartum phase are characterized by extensive physiological and behavioral changes, along with an increased vulnerability to mental health challenges. The Emmy Noether Group PlasMa seeks to understand whether individual differences in these pregnancy-induced neuroplastic changes are associated with an altered risk for depression as well as changes in caregiving behavior, and how these might relate to early adversity. To investigate these questions, the program primarily conducts and leverages existing longitudinal studies. In one such study involving women who are planning to conceive, repeated assessments are carried out before, during, and after pregnancy. This includes the use of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging and serial hormone measurements, among other methods. By gaining a better understanding of the neural and hormonal mechanisms underlying the development of depression in the peripartum period, as well as potentially modifiable moderating factors, the research aims to identify vulnerable women and provide relevant information for intervention studies that would benefit both the health of the woman and her child.