Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain

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 Stre...

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Main Authors: Yvan Gomez, Ayako Nakaki, Allegra Conti, Sara Castro-Barquero, Benedetta Gambosi, Irene Casas, Mariona Genero, Lina Youssef, Leticia Benitez, 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 Gratacos, Francesca Crovetto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07787-9
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author Yvan Gomez
Ayako Nakaki
Allegra Conti
Sara Castro-Barquero
Benedetta Gambosi
Irene Casas
Mariona Genero
Lina Youssef
Leticia Benitez
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 Gratacos
Francesca Crovetto
author_facet Yvan Gomez
Ayako Nakaki
Allegra Conti
Sara Castro-Barquero
Benedetta Gambosi
Irene Casas
Mariona Genero
Lina Youssef
Leticia Benitez
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 Gratacos
Francesca Crovetto
author_sort Yvan Gomez
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-2bb11fdb4b66488698f2e48dce8741892025-08-20T03:38:16ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-07787-9Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brainYvan Gomez0Ayako Nakaki1Allegra Conti2Sara Castro-Barquero3Benedetta Gambosi4Irene Casas5Mariona Genero6Lina Youssef7Leticia Benitez8Noelia Encabo9Rosa Casas10Andrés Martín-Asuero11Teresa Oller-Guzmán12Ivette Morilla13Anabel Martínez-Àran14Nuria Bargallo15Nicola Toschi16Ramon Estruch17Eduard Vieta18Fàtima Crispi19Eduard Gratacos20Francesca Crovetto21BCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”BCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaDepartment of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, University of Rome “La Sapienza”BCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaInstitut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentaria (INSA-UB), Universitat de BarcelonaInstituto esMindfulnessInstituto esMindfulnessDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clinic, Neuroscience Institute, IDIBAPS, Universitat de BarcelonaDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clinic, Neuroscience Institute, IDIBAPS, Universitat de BarcelonaInstitut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentaria (INSA-UB), Universitat de BarcelonaDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clinic, Neuroscience Institute, IDIBAPS, Universitat de BarcelonaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Universitat de BarcelonaAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07787-9Mindfulness-based stress reductionPregnancyBrainMRISmall-for-gestational ageProton magnetic resonance spectroscopy
spellingShingle Yvan Gomez
Ayako Nakaki
Allegra Conti
Sara Castro-Barquero
Benedetta Gambosi
Irene Casas
Mariona Genero
Lina Youssef
Leticia Benitez
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 Gratacos
Francesca Crovetto
Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain
Scientific Reports
Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Pregnancy
Brain
MRI
Small-for-gestational age
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy
title Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain
title_full Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain
title_fullStr Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain
title_full_unstemmed Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain
title_short Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain
title_sort mindfulness based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain
topic Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Pregnancy
Brain
MRI
Small-for-gestational age
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07787-9
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