Abstract
Motherhood is fundamentally the state of being a mother. In mammals this manifests as behaviorally nurturing and physiologically nourishing one's young. The state of motherhood requires substantial and dramatic changes in the mother's behavior, brain, and body. Moreover among humans, motherhood occurs within a familial, socioeconomic, and cultural context. Among many animals, to become a mother marks the transition to a new stage of life, from a period dedicated to growth and development to a period of sexual maturity and productivity. Considering trade-offs within and across the stages of the life course, known as life history theory, is essential to understand motherhood. Moreover, the interests of the mother and the infant overlap, but are not identical, leading to conflicts of interest. Here we will consider established and emerging topics of investigation into motherhood—from the neuron to the society—and directions for the future.
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