Viral infection during pregnancy affects maternal care behaviour, research shows

New research by the Medical University of Vienna shows that viral infections during pregnancy affect the mother's brain and her aftercare behaviour.

The findings of the research were published in the journal 'Molecular Psychiatry'.

There is ample data from studies in mouse models demonstrating that viral infections during pregnancy can affect the developing brain of the young in utero (in the womb) with lifelong consequences for brain function and behaviour.

A preclinical study has now shown, for the first time, that a viral-like immune activation during pregnancy also affects the maternal brain and significantly disrupts maternal care behaviour after birth. These results are published by a research group led by behavioural biologist Daniela D.