Neural brain changes linked to maternal mood and infant adjustment
Official title: Neural mechanisms of psychological risk on mother and infant adjustment
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11376540 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Yale will look at how a mother's depressive symptoms and attachment style may change her brain and caregiving, and how that affects her infant's development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $557,740 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD108218-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376540 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people in the third trimester and new mothers, plus their infants, who are willing to participate in neuroimaging and behavioral assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Families who are unable to participate in imaging studies or follow-up assessments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project follows mothers through the transition to parenthood to see how mood and relationship factors influence brain responses to infants and caregiving behavior. It uses neuroimaging and behavioral assessments to connect maternal psychology with neural changes and infant outcomes over time. The goal is to understand when the brain is most sensitive to risk factors and how infant characteristics shape maternal brain responses, with an emphasis on diverse families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how maternal mental health affects parenting and child development could lead to targeted support for families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked maternal mood and attachment to caregiving and infant outcomes, with growing evidence of brain-related changes.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rutherford, Helena Jv — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Rutherford, Helena Jv
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mobile app to help family caregivers in Thailand manage distress
A mobile app called CAMMA would help family members caring for adults with chronic illnesses in Thailand feel less depressed and anxious through a culturally tailored mental health support program.
-
SPOT: A brief measure to understand wellbeing for people with dementia and their caregivers
A new quick set of questions will help doctors and researchers understand the social and emotional wellbeing of people with dementia and their caregivers.
-
A Tablet-Based Emotion Regulation Program for Surrogate Decision-Makers of ICU Patients on Ventilation
A randomized trial tests a brief tablet program to help people who decide for ICU patients on ventilation feel less anxious and make better decisions.
-
KINDER: A new approach to help family caregivers prevent psychological elder abuse in dementia care
A study tests a caregiver-focused program designed to reduce psychological abuse by family members caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.
-
Environmental and psychological stressors shaping anxiety, depression, and alcohol-related health issues in people with HIV
A patient-facing overview of how stress, mental health, and alcohol use interact with HIV to influence health and aging in people living with HIV.
-
A mental health support program integrated into HIV care for Kenyan adolescents and young people
A new program uses a brief, flexible mental health approach delivered by trained lay health workers to help Kenyan adolescents and young people with HIV manage depression, anxiety, and trauma alongside their HIV care.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.