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A world first MRI study investigating how areas of the brain responsible for sensory processing and sense of self change in pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of profound physiological change, where the body rapidly adapts to accommodate a growing foetus. It is also a personally transformative time, where knowledge and skills are developed to adapt to a new identity as a parent. This study uses MRI, cognitive and sensory testing to understand how neuroplastic changes might impact sense of self.

  • Women’s health and pregnancy

Study Purpose/Description

Monash University is conducting a world first neuroimaging (fMRI) study to understand the effect of pregnancy on sensory processing and the self. Evidence is emerging that pregnancy is a time of neuroplasticity, but what that means in practice remains unknown, as most neuroscience research focuses on the infant.

What’s involved?

Participation takes 3-4 hours (including questionnaires, tests of attention, memory, reaction time and sense of touch accuracy (on the belly and forearm), a hemoglobin (finger prick) blood test, and a one-hour MRI brain scan) at Monash Biomedical Imaging, located at Clayton Victoria.

Participants will receive a $50 gift card and parking reimbursement. Participants will have the opportunity to see images of their brain.

Want to learn more?

If you are interested and think you might be eligible, you can:

Recruitment criteria

To take part, you must:

  • Be either:
    • experiencing a low-risk pregnancy (contact research team for clarification)
    • Control participants – a woman aged 32-40 who has never experienced pregnancy and is not currently trying for a baby
  • Be right-handed
  • Have normal or corrected-to-normal vision
  • Be able to travel to Monash Biomedical Imaging in Clayton, Victoria for in-person testing
  • Be suitable for MRI and comfortable lying in an enclosed space with your head still for up to 20 minutes at a time (research team can adjust positioning between scans for comfort).

Benefits

Participants will receive a $50 gift card and parking reimbursement. Participants will have the opportunity to see images of their brain.

Study sponsor / funder

Research team contacts

pregnancystudy@monash.edu

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