A longitudinal multimodal investigation of postpartum neuroplasticity and the attendant risk and modulatory factors

产后神经可塑性及其伴随风险和调节因素的纵向多模式研究

• 批准号: 512021469
• 负责人: Professorin Dr. Natalya Chechko
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/512021469?language=en
• 关键词: longitudinal; multimodal; investigation; postpartum; neuroplasticity

This revised proposal by first-time applicant Susanne Stickel involves a multimodal longitudinal study of maternal brain development in the postpartum period. The aim is to create an interdisciplinary and correlative model of postpartum neuroplasticity describing risk and modulating factors as well as the effects of neuroplasticity on infant attachment, maternal cognition and mood. In a pilot study, we have already been able to describe initial results on changes in brain structures after childbirth. However, other previous studies as well as our pilot study leave important questions unanswered due to certain limitations. In the proposed study, we therefore want to investigate how structural and functional neuroplasticity develops in the postpartum period, whether neuroplasticity contributes to maternal behavior and cognition, which modulating factors contribute to neuroplasticity, and what risk this poses to maternal health. To answer these questions, we are proposing a longitudinal and multimodal MRI study of postpartum primiparous women with healthy pregnancies. Participants will undergo MRI examinations immediately after delivery (1-4 days postpartum) and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Specific temporal milestones of the adaptive processes of brain structure (gray and white matter), function and connectivity after childbirth will be examined. To answer the other questions, maternal-infant attachment, cognition, blood parameters (estradiol, progesterone), cumulative hair cortisol, physical activity, and mood, among others, will be examined. To obtain a comparison with the brain before pregnancy, a healthy female control group that has never been pregnant will be studied. We believe that with this interdisciplinary project (psychiatry and gynecology) we will be able to present a model of the maternal brain in which clinical, psychological and neurobiological parameters will be correlated. The first applicant Susanne Stickel will also be able to expand her own field of research and develop her scientific expertise with this project.

首次申请人Susanne Stickel的这一修订提案涉及产后期间母体大脑发育的多模式纵向研究。其目的是建立一个跨学科的和相关的产后神经可塑性模型，描述风险和调节因素，以及神经可塑性对婴儿依恋，母亲的认知和情绪的影响。在一项试点研究中，我们已经能够描述分娩后大脑结构变化的初步结果。然而，其他先前的研究以及我们的试点研究留下了重要的问题没有回答，由于某些限制。因此，在拟议的研究中，我们希望调查产后期间结构和功能神经可塑性如何发展，神经可塑性是否有助于母亲的行为和认知，哪些调节因素有助于神经可塑性，以及这对母亲健康构成什么风险。 为了回答这些问题，我们提出了一个纵向和多模式MRI研究产后健康妊娠的产妇。受试者将在分娩后立即（产后1-4天）和产后2、4、6、12周和6个月接受MRI检查。将检查分娩后大脑结构（灰质和白色物质）、功能和连接性适应过程的特定时间里程碑。 为了回答其他问题，将检查母婴依恋、认知、血液参数（雌二醇、孕酮）、累积毛发皮质醇、体力活动和情绪等。为了与怀孕前的大脑进行比较，将研究从未怀孕的健康女性对照组。我们相信，通过这个跨学科项目（精神病学和妇科学），我们将能够提出一个产妇大脑的模型，其中临床，心理和神经生物学参数将相互关联。第一位申请人Susanne Stickel也将能够扩大自己的研究领域，并通过该项目发展她的科学专业知识。