Differences in navigation performance and postpartal striatal volume associated with pregnancy in humans

Authors: Lisofsky, N., Wiener, J., de Condappa, O., Gallinat, J., Lindenberger, U. and Kühn, S.

Journal: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Volume: 134

Issue: Part B

Pages: 400-407

eISSN: 1095-9564

ISSN: 1074-7427

DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.08.022

Abstract:

Pregnancy is accompanied by prolonged exposure to high estrogen levels. Animal studies have shown that estrogen influences navigation strategies and, hence, affects navigation performance. High estrogen levels are related to increased use of hippocampal-based allocentric strategies and decreased use of striatal-based egocentric strategies. In humans, associations between hormonal shifts and navigation strategies are less well studied. This study compared 30 peripartal women (mean age 28 years) to an age-matched control group on allocentric versus egocentric navigation performance (measured in the last month of pregnancy) and gray matter volume (measured within two months after delivery). None of the women had a previous pregnancy before study participation. Relative to controls, pregnant women performed less well in the egocentric condition of the navigation task, but not the allocentric condition. A whole-brain group comparison revealed smaller left striatal volume (putamen) in the peripartal women. Across the two groups, left striatal volume was associated with superior egocentric over allocentric performance. Limited by the cross-sectional study design, the findings are a first indication that human pregnancy might be accompanied by structural brain changes in navigation-related neural systems and concomitant changes in navigation strategy.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/24728/

Source: Scopus

Differences in navigation performance and postpartal striatal volume associated with pregnancy in humans.

Authors: Lisofsky, N., Wiener, J., de Condappa, O., Gallinat, J., Lindenberger, U. and Kühn, S.

Journal: Neurobiol Learn Mem

Volume: 134 Pt B

Pages: 400-407

eISSN: 1095-9564

DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.08.022

Abstract:

Pregnancy is accompanied by prolonged exposure to high estrogen levels. Animal studies have shown that estrogen influences navigation strategies and, hence, affects navigation performance. High estrogen levels are related to increased use of hippocampal-based allocentric strategies and decreased use of striatal-based egocentric strategies. In humans, associations between hormonal shifts and navigation strategies are less well studied. This study compared 30 peripartal women (mean age 28years) to an age-matched control group on allocentric versus egocentric navigation performance (measured in the last month of pregnancy) and gray matter volume (measured within two months after delivery). None of the women had a previous pregnancy before study participation. Relative to controls, pregnant women performed less well in the egocentric condition of the navigation task, but not the allocentric condition. A whole-brain group comparison revealed smaller left striatal volume (putamen) in the peripartal women. Across the two groups, left striatal volume was associated with superior egocentric over allocentric performance. Limited by the cross-sectional study design, the findings are a first indication that human pregnancy might be accompanied by structural brain changes in navigation-related neural systems and concomitant changes in navigation strategy.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/24728/

Source: PubMed

Differences in navigation performance and postpartal striatal volume associated with pregnancy in humans

Authors: Lisofsky, N., Wiener, J., de Condappa, O., Gallinat, J., Lindenberger, U. and Kuehn, S.

Journal: NEUROBIOLOGY OF LEARNING AND MEMORY

Volume: 134

Pages: 400-407

eISSN: 1095-9564

ISSN: 1074-7427

DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.08.022

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/24728/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Differences in navigation performance and postpartal striatal volume associated with pregnancy in humans

Authors: Lisofsky, N., Wiener, J., de Condappa, O., Gallinat, J., Lindenberger, U. and Kühn, S.

Journal: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Volume: 134

Issue: Part B

Pages: 400-407

DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.08.022

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/24728/

Source: Manual

Differences in navigation performance and postpartal striatal volume associated with pregnancy in humans.

Authors: Lisofsky, N., Wiener, J., de Condappa, O., Gallinat, J., Lindenberger, U. and Kühn, S.

Journal: Neurobiology of learning and memory

Volume: 134 Pt B

Pages: 400-407

eISSN: 1095-9564

ISSN: 1074-7427

DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.08.022

Abstract:

Pregnancy is accompanied by prolonged exposure to high estrogen levels. Animal studies have shown that estrogen influences navigation strategies and, hence, affects navigation performance. High estrogen levels are related to increased use of hippocampal-based allocentric strategies and decreased use of striatal-based egocentric strategies. In humans, associations between hormonal shifts and navigation strategies are less well studied. This study compared 30 peripartal women (mean age 28years) to an age-matched control group on allocentric versus egocentric navigation performance (measured in the last month of pregnancy) and gray matter volume (measured within two months after delivery). None of the women had a previous pregnancy before study participation. Relative to controls, pregnant women performed less well in the egocentric condition of the navigation task, but not the allocentric condition. A whole-brain group comparison revealed smaller left striatal volume (putamen) in the peripartal women. Across the two groups, left striatal volume was associated with superior egocentric over allocentric performance. Limited by the cross-sectional study design, the findings are a first indication that human pregnancy might be accompanied by structural brain changes in navigation-related neural systems and concomitant changes in navigation strategy.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/24728/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

Differences in navigation performance and postpartal striatal volume associated with pregnancy in humans.

Authors: Lisofsky, N., Wiener, J.M., de Condappa, O., Gallinat, J., Lindenberger, U. and Kühn, S.

Journal: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Volume: 134

Issue: Part B

Pages: 400-407

ISSN: 1074-7427

Abstract:

Pregnancy is accompanied by prolonged exposure to high estrogen levels. Animal studies have shown that estrogen influences navigation strategies and, hence, affects navigation performance. High estrogen levels are related to increased use of hippocampal-based allocentric strategies and decreased use of striatal-based egocentric strategies. In humans, associations between hormonal shifts and navigation strategies are less well studied. This study compared 30 peripartal women (mean age 28 years) to an age-matched control group on allocentric versus egocentric navigation performance (measured in the last month of pregnancy) and gray matter volume (measured within two months after delivery). None of the women had a previous pregnancy before study participation. Relative to controls, pregnant women performed less well in the egocentric condition of the navigation task, but not the allocentric condition. A whole-brain group comparison revealed smaller left striatal volume (putamen) in the peripartal women. Across the two groups, left striatal volume was associated with superior egocentric over allocentric performance. Limited by the cross-sectional study design, the findings are a first indication that human pregnancy might be accompanied by structural brain changes in navigation-related neural systems and concomitant changes in navigation strategy.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/24728/

Source: BURO EPrints