Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain.
Yvan Gomez, Ayako Nakaki, Allegra Conti, Sara Castro-Barquero, Benedetta Gambosi, Irene Casas, Mariona Genero, Lina Youssef, Leticia Benítez, Noelia Encabo, Rosa Casas, Andrés Martín-Asuero, Teresa Oller-Guzmán, Ivette Morilla, Anabel Martínez-Àran, Nuria Bargallo, Nicola Toschi, Ramon Estruch, Eduard Vieta, Fàtima Crispi, Eduard Gratacós, Francesca Crovetto
Scientific reports July 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-07787-9 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program during pregnancy is associated with changes in maternal brain structure and chemistry. Pregnant women who completed the program showed larger surface area in the right superior frontal region and higher concentrations of the metabolite myo-inositol compared to those receiving usual care. Higher scores on mindfulness facets of non-judgmental and non-reactivity were also linked to larger frontal area. These findings suggest the intervention may influence the maternal brain in the third trimester.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 76 |
| Population | Pregnant women |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, magnetic resonance imaging in third trimester |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | MRI Mindfulness-based stress reduction Pregnancy Small-for-gestational age 8-week program |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key finding | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction during pregnancy led to larger right superior frontal surface area and higher myo-inositol concentrations compared to usual care. |
Abstract
Our aim is to evaluate the effect of a structured stress reduction intervention based on mindfulness during pregnancy on the maternal brain. We report a secondary analysis of IMPACT BCN, a randomized clinical trial including pregnant women randomly allocated to 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (n = 41) or usual care (without any intervention, n = 35). Maternal magnetic resonance (MR) was performed in the third trimester, cluster-wise analysis was used to assess cortical morphometric differences, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to evaluate the metabolic characteristics. Mindfulness status was evaluated using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Results showed that participants from Stress reduction group had significantly larger surface areas in the right superior frontal region as compared to the Usual care group (90%CI: 0.023-0.029, p = 0.03). The1H-MRS revealed that Stress reduction group participants, had higher concentrations of myo-inositol (adjusted mean difference D 0.37 mol/L, 95%CI 0.05-0.69) as compared to Usual care. Participants who had high mindfulness on FFMQ facets of non-judgmental (D 358.5 mm2, 95%CI 53.5-663.6) and non-reactivity (D 362.3 mm2, 95%CI 18.8-705.7) had larger right superior frontal area. In conclusion, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program during pregnancy has a significant effect on maternal brain structure and is associated with metabolite concentration changes.