It is estimated that up to a fifth of women suffer from symptoms of depression during pregnancy — with the full effects on the foetus unclear, the team said.

Male children of women who suffer from depression while pregnant are more likely to be hyperactive and aggressive, a study has revealed. Greater symptoms of prenatal depression in mothers was found to be associated with weaker white matter connections in the cingulum (left) and amygdala pathway (right), which link brain regions involved in emotional processing.

Weakened white matter in the brain was also linked to increased aggression and hyperactivity in male children, the study found.

After the children were born, the researchers used so-called 'diffusion MRI' — an imaging technique that can reveal the strength of structural connections between different regions of the brain — to examine the children's white matter.

Greater symptoms of prenatal depression in the mothers was found to be associated with weaker white matter connections between the brain regions involved in emotional processing among the children, the researchers reported.

It is estimated that up to a fifth of women suffer from symptoms of depression during pregnancy — with the full effects on the fetus unclear, the team said (stock image).

The findings highlight the need for better prenatal care to recognise and treat prenatal depression in order to support mothers and the development of their children, the researchers said.

The study revealed 'white matter changes in young children exposed to maternal prenatal depressive symptoms.'.

'Children of mothers with worse depressive symptoms had weaker white matter connectivity between areas related to emotional processing.'?

'Furthermore, connectivity between the amygdala [the area of the brain that deals with emotions] and prefrontal cortex mediated the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and externalising behaviour in boys.

'This provides important information for understanding why children of depressed mothers may be more vulnerable to depression themselves and may help shape future guidelines on maternal prenatal care.'.