Postpartum enhancement of spatial learning and cognitive flexibility: an IntelliCage study

The transition to motherhood has been shown to result in significant changes in the structure and function of the brain, with particular emphasis on the enhancement of cognitive abilities that are essential for survival. Specifically, in murine models, spatial learning and cognitive flexibility have been identified as critical components of mothering. While cognitive enhancements during the postpartum period have been observed in various experimental setups, research using long-term data collection with automated monitoring in a home cage setup is lacking despite its reliability compared to other experimental procedures. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by systematically examining spatial learning and cognitive flexibility in female mice during the reproductive stages using the IntelliCage system. The results showed that female mice in the postpartum phase outperformed pregnant and nulliparous females in place learning, reversal learning, and fixed schedule drinking tasks, demonstrating faster adaptation and superior retention of information. Postpartum mothers showed elevated cognitive ability in spatial learning, and also showed increased flexibility compared to the control/pregnant group suggesting a greater ability to update previously learned associations. The identification of these improvements in maternal behavior may provide novel insights into how reproductive experiences impact brain function, with implications for maternal health and broader cognitive research.