OBJECTIVE Pregnancy causes many changes in our body and some of them may affect our ability of learning and memory. We examined the cerebral cortical volume of brain during pregnancy and measured changes in the brain electrical activity and cerebral blood flow. METHOD 35 women (20 normal full-term primigravida and 15 non-pregnant women) received the Electroencephalography (EEG) and Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD). 8 non-pregnant women and 9 primigravida after vaginal delivery underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) voluntarily within 24 h. RESULTS Compared with the non-pregnant, changes were shown by EEG through electrodes of T5, Pz, Cz, T6, F3 and F8. The results displayed increased activity in the central parietal area of pregnant women, while that in the temporoparietal junction decreased. The result of TCD revealed that pulsation index (PI) values of left and right internal and external carotid arteries were asymmetrical, but they all decreased in pregnancy. Atrophy of cortical volume had been found in many brain functional areas of pregnant women. The percentage of atrophy varied between 6.76% and 13.17%. CONCLUSION Atrophy of cerebral cortex, changes in cerebral blood flow and neuron electrophysiology may be the physiological basis of the emotional, cognitive changes in pregnant women.

中文翻译：

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正常妊娠对母亲的脑电图，心电图和大脑皮层容积的影响。

目的怀孕会导致我们的身体发生许多变化，其中一些变化可能会影响我们的学习和记忆能力。我们在怀孕期间检查了大脑的大脑皮层体积，并测量了大脑电活动和大脑血流的变化。方法35例妇女（20例正常足月初产妇和15例未妊娠妇女）接受了脑电图（EEG）和经颅多普勒超声（TCD）检查。阴道分娩后8例非孕妇和9例初产妇在24小时内自愿接受了脑磁共振成像（MRI）。结果与非妊娠相比，脑电图通过T5，Pz，Cz，T6，F3和F8电极显示出变化。结果显示孕妇中央顶区的活动增加，而颞顶交界处的活动减少。TCD的结果显示，左右颈内外动脉的搏动指数（PI）值不对称，但在妊娠期均下降。在孕妇的许多大脑功能区域中发现了皮质体积的萎缩。萎缩的百分比在6.76％和13.17％之间变化。结论大脑皮质的萎缩，脑血流的变化和神经元电生理的改变可能是孕妇情绪，认知变化的生理基础。