In this episode of The Biological Psychiatry Podcast, Dr. Elvisha Dhamala sits down with Dr. Pilyoung Kim from the University of Denver to discuss their recent paper published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.

Pregnancy transforms the brain to prepare for parenthood, but what happens when financial instability disrupts that process? In this conversation, we explore how income losses during pregnancy dampen brain responses to infant cries in the postpartum period, while income gains strengthen neural bonding with one's own baby. We discuss what these findings mean for understanding the neurobiology of parenting, why income instability may matter more than poverty itself, and the implications for supporting families during this critical window.

Paper:

Income Instability During Pregnancy Prospectively Relates to Postpartum Brain Function for Parent–Infant Bonding

DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2026.03.003

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