The paternal transition entails neuroanatomic adaptations that are associated with the father's brain response to his infant cues

The transition into fatherhood is a life-changing event that requires substantial psychological adaptations. In families that include a father figure, sensitive paternal behavior has been shown to positively impact the infant's development. Yet, studies exploring the neuroanatomic adaptations of men in their transition into fatherhood are scarce. The present study used surface-based methods to reanalyze a previously published prospective magnetic resonance imaging dataset comprised of 20 first-time fathers (preconception-to-postpartum) and 17 childless men. We tested if the transition into fatherhood entailed changes in cortical volume, thickness, and area and whether these changes were related to 2 indicators of paternal experience. Specifically, we tested if such changes were associated with (1) the baby's age and/or (2) the fathers' brain activity in response to pictures of their babies compared with an unknown baby. Results indicated that first-time fathers exhibited a significant reduction in cortical volume and thickness of the precuneus. Moreover, higher volume reduction and cortical thinning were associated with stronger brain responses to pictures of their own baby in parental brain regions. This is the first study showing preconception-to-postpartum neuroanatomical adaptations in first-time fathers associated with the father's brain response to cues of his infant.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades project (RTI2018-093952-B-100); Instituto de Salud Carlos III projects (CP16/00096 and PI17/00064); cofunded by European Regional Development Fund, "A way of making Europe" and by "La Caixa" Foundation under the project code LCF/PR/HR19/52160001, and by the European Research Council under the project code 883069. The project ASPIDE has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 801091. M.M.G. and S.S.C. were funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PFIS contract FI18/00255 and Miguel Servet Type I research contract CP16/00096, respectively), and cofunded by European Social Fund "Investing in your future". The Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares is supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades and the Pro CNIC Foundation, and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (SEV-2015-0505). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript