Toward Anatomical Pathways Changes in the Brain During Pregnancy with A Novel Multi-Scale Shape Analysis Method

Motivation: White matter fibers' structural characteristics are intricately linked to the physiological and psychological changes during pregnancy. We aim to explain maternal changes during pregnancy through structural changes in white matter fibers. Goal(s): Exploring the anatomical pathways relevant to physiological changes during pregnancy. Approach: We identified multi-scale shape features by employing high-order cosine representation for ten microstructure metrics across 31 typical fiber bundles, analyzing their temporal characteristics throughout the pregnancy cycle. Results: The physiological metrics of radial diffusivity (RD), mean diffusivity (MD), and axial diffusivity (AD) demonstrated notable dynamic changes during pregnancy, particularly in the Brainstem Reticular Tract. Impact: This study reveals the changes occurring in different white matter fiber bundles of the brain during pregnancy. This insight will enhance our understanding of the physiological basis of specific symptoms and offer a new perspective for potential treatments.