Cognitive reorganization during pregnancy and the postpartum period: An evolutionary perspective

From the book : Evolutionary Psychology 10 issue 4 : 659-687.
Where the non-human animal research investigating reproduction-inducedcognitive reorganization has focused on neural plasticity and adaptive advantage inresponse to the demands associated with pregnancy and parenting, human studies haveprimarily concentrated on pregnancy-induced memory decline.
The current review updatesHenry and Rendell’s 2007 meta-analysis, and examines cognitive reorganization as theresult of reproductive experience from an adaptationist perspective.
Investigations ofpregnancy-induced cognitive change in human females may benefit by focusing on areas,such as social cognition, where a cognitive advantage would serve a protective function,and by extending the study duration beyond pregnancy into the postpartum period.