This selective review first describes the involvement of the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and the relation between peripartum HPA axis function and maternal behavior, stress reactivity and emotional dysregulation in human mothers. To provide experimental background to this correlational work, where helpful, animal studies are also described. It then explores the association between HPA axis function in mothers and their infants, under ongoing non-stressful conditions and during stressful challenges, the moderating role of mothers' sensitivity and behavior in the mother-child co-regulation and the effects of more traumatic risk factors on these relations. The overarching theme being explored is that the HPA axis - albeit a system designed to function during periods of high stress and challenge - also functions to promote adaptation to more normative processes, shown in the new mother who experiences both high cortisol and enhanced attraction and attention to and recognition of, their infants and their cues. Hence the same HPA system shows positive relations with behavior at some time points and inverse ones at others. However, the literature is not uniform and results vary widely depending on the number, timing, place, and type of samplings and assessments, and, of course, the population being studied and, in the present context, the state, the stage, and the stress levels of mother and infant.

中文翻译：

---

重温母亲：皮质醇的作用？

这项选择性综述首先描述了孕妇和产后时期母亲下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴的参与，以及围产期HPA轴功能与人类母亲的产妇行为，压力反应性和情绪失调之间的关系。为了为这项相关工作提供实验背景，在有用的地方，还介绍了动物研究。然后，研究了在持续的非压力条件下和在压力挑战下，母亲及其婴儿的HPA轴功能之间的关联，母亲敏感性和行为在母子共同调节中的调节作用以及更多创伤性风险的影响之间的关系。这些关系的因素。正在探讨的总体主题是，虽然设计用于在高压力和挑战期间起作用的系统，但HPA轴也可以起到促进适应更多规范过程的作用，这一点在新母亲中表现出来，既经历了高皮质醇，又增强了吸引力和注意力对其婴儿及其暗示的认可。因此，相同的HPA系统在某些时间点显示与行为的正相关，而在其他时间点显示与行为的负相关。但是，文献并不统一，其结果取决于采样和评估的数量，时间，地点和类型，当然还有所研究的人群以及当前的状态，阶段和状态，差异很大。母亲和婴儿的压力水平。在新母亲中表现出来，他既有高皮质醇，又对婴儿及其暗示产生了更多的吸引力，注意力和认受性。因此，相同的HPA系统在某些时间点显示与行为的正相关，而在其他时间点显示与行为的负相关。但是，文献并不统一，其结果取决于采样和评估的数量，时间，地点和类型，当然还有所研究的人群以及目前的状态，阶段和母亲和婴儿的压力水平。在新母亲中表现出来，他既有高皮质醇，又对婴儿及其暗示产生了更多的吸引力，注意力和认受性。因此，相同的HPA系统在某些时间点显示与行为的正相关，而在其他时间点显示与行为的正相关。但是，文献并不统一，其结果取决于采样和评估的数量，时间，地点和类型，当然还有所研究的人群以及当前的状态，阶段和状态，差异很大。母亲和婴儿的压力水平。