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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.06.07.447303

Baby-brain phenomena is a subjective experience: absence of evidence for cognitive deficit in new mothers at one-year postpartum.

Orchard, E. R.·Ward, P. G.·Egan, G. F.·Jamadar, S. D.
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Abstract

The experience and even existence of cognitive deficits in the postpartum period is uncertain, with only a few scientific studies, reporting inconsistent results. Here we investigate cognition in 86 women (43 first-time mothers one year postpartum, and 43 non-mothers). Mothers and non-mothers showed no significant differences on measures of objective cognition (verbal memory, working memory, processing speed or theory of mind). Despite the absence of objective differences, mothers self-reported significantly worse subjective memory than non-mothers. To interpret the difference between objective and subjective measures of memory, we investigated relationships between subjective memory, objective memory, and wellbeing. Mothers, but not non-mothers, showed a positive correlation between subjective and objective measures of memory, indicating mothers are in-tune with their memory performance. Mothers also demonstrated a positive relationship between subjective memory and wellbeing (sleep, anxiety and depression), where better wellbeing correlated with higher subjective memory. This relationship was not apparent in non-mothers. The results suggest that poorer sleep, higher anxiety and higher depression are related to reports of poorer self-reported memory in mothers. Our results add to our growing understanding of maternal cognition at one year postpartum, with no evidence of cognitive differences between mothers and non-mothers.

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Orchard, E. R., Ward, P. G., Egan, G. F., Jamadar, S. D.. 2021-06-07. Baby-brain phenomena is a subjective experience: absence of evidence for cognitive deficit in new mothers at one-year postpartum.. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.07.447303

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