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Recent research shows pregnancy physically "rewires" the brain, reducing grey matter by 5% to help women bond with their babies. Scientists compare this to "pruning a tree"—removing certain branches so the brain works more efficiently for motherhood. These changes improve empathy and help new mothers prioritize their infants' needs.
Discussion
Your teacher will give you a definition. Scan the article and find the word.
Describe the graph to your teacher.
Have you ever heard the term "Baby Brain"? Based on this article, is it a negative or a positive thing?
The scientist uses the metaphor of pruning a tree. Can you think of another metaphor for learning a new skill?
Why is it important for a new mother to have high levels of empathy and altruism?