3.20 The Trajectory of Maternal Prenatal Stress is Associated With Newborn Amygdala Functional Connectivity and Infant Negative Affect Development Over the First Two Years of Life

Maternal prenatal stress (MPS) has been linked to increased risk for development of mental illnesses in offspring. Most studies primarily consider the overall level or magnitude of MPS as a risk factor; less is known about how the timing and pace of MPS change over pregnancy (the trajectory) affect brain systems and behavioral phenotypes in infancy. This study examined the relationship of MPS magnitude and trajectories to newborn amygdala functional connectivity and negative affect development over the first 2 years of life.