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Story summary
- A Northeastern University study finds that pregnancy reduces fear memory, altering brain function.
- Hormonal increases in estrogen and progesterone affect the amygdala and hippocampus, key fear-processing regions.
- The change may help protect maternal mental health during pregnancy.
- However, pregnant individuals do not lose danger recognition, but their brains may prioritize emotional regulation differently.
- Further research is needed to understand the duration of these changes after birth and their impact on anxiety or mood disorders.
