Abstract:

Understanding how reproductive experience transforms the maternal brain’s processing of infant signals is a critical step in decoding the neurobiological basis of parenting. This paper provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary synthesis of how childbirth and caregiving experiences alter mothers’ perceptual, attentional, and emotional processing of infant auditory cues—especially cries—through neural, hormonal, and behavioral lenses. By integrating findings from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, endocrinology, and evolutionary psychology, this study proposes a cohesive explanatory framework grounded in the cognitive reorganization theory, emphasizing adaptive brain remodeling to support caregiving behaviors.

The key innovation of this paper lies in reframing the maternal response to infant cries not merely as a consequence of hormonal shifts, but as a result of an experience-driven reallocation of cognitive resources that optimize caregiving efficiency. Building on emerging evidence, the study summarizes extant research on how reproductive experience enhances mothers' sensitivity to infant cries at multiple levels—from heightened perceptual discrimination and attention bias to more pronounced emotional attunement—while simultaneously downregulating unrelated cognitive functions. These changes are underpinned by coordinated activity across distributed brain systems, particularly the auditory cortex, default mode network (DMN), prefrontal cortex (PFC), limbic system (e.g., amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex), and reward circuitry (e.g., nucleus accumbens).

Drawing from classic experimental paradigms such as playback, Stroop, Go/No-Go, and n-back tasks, this review highlights how maternally experienced mothers show a superior ability in identifying infant distress and resisting cognitive interference from infant crying—effects not seen in non-mothers or less experienced parents. Neuroimaging findings further reveal that caregiving experience induces both structural and functional reorganization in the maternal brain, including reductions in gray matter volume in DMN-related regions during pregnancy that later rebound postnatally. These dynamic changes optimize attentional filtering and emotional reactivity to infant needs, supporting the idea of a U-shaped trajectory of neuroplasticity.

The paper also underscores the role of neuroendocrine systems in shaping maternal responsiveness. Oxytocin, prolactin, dopamine, and endogenous opioids jointly orchestrate emotional resonance, stress regulation, and reward reinforcement associated with infant care. Notably, the paper introduces the concept of a dual neuroendocrine axis—comprising the cortisol-opioid (CORT-EO) and dopamine-opioid (DA-EO) systems—that modulates both stress and reward pathways in response to infant cues. This bidirectional regulatory mechanism helps sustain maternal sensitivity while protecting the brain from chronic caregiving stress. The integration of less-explored neurotransmitters like serotonin into this framework further advances our understanding of affective synchronization between mothers and infants.

Crucially, this paper expands the application of cognitive reorganization theory by situating it within an evolutionary-developmental framework. It argues that maternal brain changes—once dismissed as cognitive decline or “mommy brain”—represent adaptive resource reallocation that privileges survival-relevant processes such as threat detection, emotion recognition, and social bonding. These reorganizations serve dual functions: they not only enhance infant care but also protect the mother’s own psychological well-being. Importantly, the functional changes in the maternal brain and cognitive reorganization are not merely altruistic sacrifices for the benefit of offspring. Neuroendocrine regulation and cognitive reorganization also act through multiple pathways to ensure that mothers are protected from negative neural impacts or psychological dysfunction as a result of long-term caregiving demands. Thus, cognitive reorganization theory not only highlights how neuroplasticity helps mothers better nurture their infants, but also emphasizes that the restructuring of psychological and cognitive functions in support of maternal behavior concurrently promotes the inclusive fitness of both mother and child. The review also points to cultural and experiential modulation of these neural patterns, offering a socially nuanced view of maternal neuroplasticity.

In addition to consolidating current knowledge, the paper identifies significant gaps and proposes a future research agenda. It calls for high-ecological-validity studies using virtual reality and multimodal imaging to simulate real-world caregiving contexts. It advocates for longitudinal, multilevel investigations that integrate brain imaging, hormonal assays, genetic polymorphisms, and behavioral coding to chart how maternal cognition evolves across time and across individuals. Finally, it suggests experimental manipulations—such as pharmacological modulation of oxytocin and dopamine functions—to elucidate the causal roles of neurochemicals in maternal motivation and emotion regulation.

In conclusion, the present paper contributes a novel and integrative perspective on the cognitive and neural reorganization of the maternal brain, moving beyond simplistic hormonal explanations to highlight dynamic, experience-driven adaptations. By characterizing maternal sensitivity as a biologically embedded yet socially modulated process, it offers a fresh perspective for understanding postpartum mental health, early intervention for parenting challenges, and the neurobiological mechanisms underlying maternal caregiving behaviors across cultures.

Key words: infant auditory cues, reproductive experience, maternal behavior, neuroendocrine mechanisms, cognitive reorganization theory