Independent Components and Functional Connectivity in Resting-State fMRI: A Comparative Study of Primiparous and Nulliparous Subjects.

Motivation: Motherhood causes significant mental and physical changes, yet research on maternal brain function is limited. We aim to address this gap through resting-state fMRI analysis. Goal(s): Identify differences in brain regions and functional connectivity between primiparous and nulliparous subjects. Approach: Resting-state fMRI data were analyzed using group-ICA between two groups. A t-test identified significant clusters. ICA-identified region served as the seed to examine functional connectivity differences between groups. Results: Group-ICA identified regions in cuneal cortex, occipital cortex, and temporal gyrus. Post-hoc seed-based connectivity analysis using right cuneal cortex as the seed showed increased connectivity with temporal gyrus and decreased connectivity with occipital cortex. Impact: Our study may help fill critical gaps in our understanding of the maternal brain's functional adaptations, enhancing our knowledge of the mental and physical changes that occur on women after childbirth.