Did you know that less than 1% of all neuroimaging studies focus on women and women’s health? Our research team is on a mission to understand how pregnancy might impact areas of the brain responsible for sensory perception and sense of self. However, this research simply isn’t possible without the involvement of control participants – women who have never been pregnant. 

By joining the Monash Pregnancy Study as a control, you will help establish a baseline that clarifies how the brain might change during pregnancy and help fill a significant gap in our understanding of the female brain and its adaptability. This research could lead to breakthroughs in healthcare tailored to women's physiological experiences, impacting future care standards for pregnancy and beyond.

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (ID: 47692)

We are recruiting women aged 30-40 who have never been pregnant and are not currently trying for a baby. Women may participate regardless of whether they use hormonal contraception, including IUD.  To take part, you must also:

• be right-handed

• be able to attend one 3-4 hour data collection session at Monash Biomedical Imaging (Clayton) during the week

• have no chronic health conditions

• have normal or corrected-to-normal vision

• not have known fertility issues or commenced menopause

• not have taken psychiatric medication for more than 3 months in the last five years i.e. anti-depressants, mood stabilisers, stimulant medication  

• have no history of neurological conditions, including head injury, epilepsy, or stroke

• have no history of conditions that affect sensory processing (e.g. Autism, dyslexia, diabetes)

• be suitable for MRI and comfortable lying still in an enclosed space for up to 20 minutes at a time.

*List not exhaustive. Please read the explanatory statement for full eligibility criteria