Mentalizing is the capacity to understand ourselves and others in terms of intentional mental
states, such as feelings, desires, wishes, attitudes, and goals. It is a fundamental capacity in …

Although interest in the neurobiology of parent–infant bonding is a century old,
neuroimaging of the human parental brain is recent. After summarizing current comparative …

The positive-negative axis of emotional valence has long been recognized as fundamental
to adaptive behavior, but its origin and underlying function have largely eluded formal …

While animal studies have demonstrated a unique reproduction-related neuroplasticity, little
is known on the effects of pregnancy on the human brain. Here we investigated whether …

Ten to twenty percent of postpartum women experience anxiety or depressive disorders,
which can have detrimental effects on the mother, child, and family. Little is known about the …

Background Theory and research suggest that sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), found
in roughly 20% of humans and over 100 other species, is a trait associated with greater …

This new edition of Handbook of Mentalizing in Mental Health Practice reflects a vibrant field
undergoing development along a number of dimensions important for mental health. As …

Childhood is the time when we forge our first social bonds, first learn how to express and
read basic human emotions, and first make sense of the physical world. In childhood …

This article is part of a Special Issue “Parental Care”. Early mother–infant relationships play
important roles in infants' optimal development. New mothers undergo neurobiological …

Pregnancy and the postpartum period involve numerous physiological adaptations that
enable the development and survival of the offspring. A distinct neural plasticity …