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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

Hormones and cognitive functioning during late pregnancy and postpartum: a longitudinal study.

Jessica F Henry¹, Barbara B Sherwin

¹Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A.

Behavioral Neuroscience

|September 21, 2011

Summary

Pregnancy hormone levels, including estradiol and cortisol, impact cognitive functions like verbal recall and attention. Fluctuations in these hormones during pregnancy and postpartum may modulate specific cognitive abilities.

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Area of Science:

Neuroendocrinology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Reproductive Endocrinology

Background:

Hormonal changes during pregnancy and postpartum significantly impact maternal physiology.
The specific effects of key reproductive and stress hormones on cognitive function during these periods require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the longitudinal influence of estradiol (E₂), progesterone (P), testosterone (T), cortisol (CORT), and prolactin (PRL) on cognitive functioning.
To compare cognitive performance and hormone levels between pregnant women and nonpregnant controls.

Main Methods:

A longitudinal study involving 55 pregnant women and 21 nonpregnant controls.
Neuropsychological testing during the third trimester of pregnancy and the early postpartum period.
Measurement of serum levels for E₂, P, T, CORT, and PRL.

Main Results:

Pregnant women scored lower on verbal recall and processing speed compared to controls.
Cortisol levels showed an inverted-U association with verbal recall (pregnancy and postpartum) and spatial abilities (postpartum).
Prolactin levels correlated with paragraph recall and executive function during pregnancy; estradiol and cortisol correlated with attention postpartum.

Conclusions:

Fluctuating hormone levels during late pregnancy and early postpartum modulate specific cognitive abilities.
Findings highlight the neuroendocrine basis of cognitive changes in the perinatal period.