The idea that motherhood ushers a decline in cognitive capabilities can be proven false.
Most mothers would admit that during pregnancy and after giving birth, they experience forgetfulness, fogginess, and difficulty concentrating. This mental disconnect is commonly called the "mom brain."
While studies show that there 80 percent of pregnant and postpartum women report a degree of subjective memory loss, "the idea that motherhood is wrought with memory deficits and is characterized by a brain that no longer functions well is scientifically just not so," according to a recent study It's Time to Rebrand "Mommy Brain" published on JAMA Neurology Network.
It turns out that there is not much difference between mothers' mental capabilities and women who do not have children yet. There are times when moms can do better in terms of cognition.
'Maternal superheroes'
The study further theorized that previous research might not have tested women on suitable subjects to fully understand how a mother's brain works.
When mothers were asked to participate in studies that more accurately imitated the reality of their new circumstances as a mother, such as multitasking, keeping up a house on little sleep, and the like, it was found that they performed better than women who have not undergone pregnancy or do not have a child yet.
Researchers explained that testing moms doing parenting tasks boosted overall learning and enhanced long-term memory.
More so, according to a 2022 study published last December in Live Science that confirmed how pregnancy can cause dramatic changes in the brain, it stated that the changes prepare the woman for motherhood as they pave the way for "adaptive advantages for a mother's gestational and maternal behavior and the establishment of the new mother-child relationship," turning "mom brain" into "maternal superheroes."
The neurological changes stimulate and nurture bonding between mother and baby and help women smoothly traverse the "identity shift" many feel when they become new mommas.
Result of sexism and stereotypes
Lastly, the study showed that when women were being studied in the lab, away from their chaotic homes, the peaceful environment changed their brain activity resulting in the disappearance of the "mom brain."
"Mommy brain," also called baby brain, mom brain, momnesia, and pregnancy brain, is not a real thing, concluded the researchers. Yet, unfortunately, it reflects how society can judge mothers too harshly.
Forgetting to sign a permission slip or putting children's shoes on the wrong feet is something a dad or any adult can easily do. However, they are usually blamed on the "mom brain" instead of just being a mistake of an imperfect human being.
As Scary Mommy expressed, the idea of "mommy brain," now proven not scientific, can result from sexism and stereotypes.
