Who Am I Now? Motherhood, Identity and the Neuroscience of Becoming

Explore how motherhood can reshape the brain, identity, attention and stress — and evidence-informed ways to navigate the transition. Becoming a mother can change far more than your daily routine. For many women, it can also bring changes in attention, memory, stress, emotions and the way they see themselves. So what is happening beneath the surface — and why can motherhood sometimes leave you wondering, “Who am I now?” In this Mind Circles Talk, Sinthu Thakur explores matrescence — the neurological, psychological and identity transition involved in becoming a mother. Drawing on clinical neuroscience, neurophysiology, psychology and lived experience, Sinthu will look at how the brain and nervous system can change during pregnancy and motherhood, and how these changes may relate to experiences that many mothers recognise but do not always have the language to describe. The session will explore questions such as: • What happens in the brain during pregnancy and the transition into motherhood? • Why can “brain fog” feel so real? • What may contribute to heightened alertness or hypervigilance? • What can neuroscience help us understand about postpartum depression? • Why can becoming a mother create such a profound shift in identity? • How can women begin to make sense of who they are becoming alongside who they were before? Rather than treating these experiences as isolated problems, the talk will consider motherhood as a significant period of biological, psychological and personal change. Whether you are a mother yourself, supporting someone through this transition, or simply curious about the neuroscience of identity, this session offers an accessible and evidence-informed exploration of what it can mean to become a mother — in the brain, the body and the sense of self. No previous knowledge of neuroscience or psychology is required. Just curiosity. Event Schedule Please arrive by 19:15 to check in and get settled before the talk begins, door will close at this time so we can start the talk promptly at `19:30. 19:00 – 19:30 Arrival & Optional Warm-Up Activity 19:30 – 20:15 Talk 20:15 – 20:30 Q&A 20:30 – 21:00 Optional Networking About the Speaker Sinthu Thakur is a Clinical Scientist specialising in Neurophysiology, the study of how the brain and nervous system function, as well as an EMCC-registered coach, mentor and founder of Sintrinsic Coaching. With over a decade of experience in neurophysiology, Sinthu has built her career exploring the relationship between the brain, nervous system and human behaviour. She is a qualified Coaching Professional, holds an ILM Level 5 Diploma in Effective Coaching and Mentoring, and was awarded Judges’ Choice Highly Commended Apprentice at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. Becoming a mother sparked a different question: what happens to our brain, identity and sense of self when we become someone’s mother? This inspired Sinthu to found Sintrinsic Coaching, supporting professional women, particularly women of colour, through motherhood, career transitions and identity change. Bringing together neuroscience, coaching and lived experience, she helps women reconnect with themselves and find the missing piece within. LinkedIn profile Sintrinsic Coaching Website Sintrinsic Coaching Instagram page Ticket Options In Person OR Livestream/Recording Early Bird: Discounted early-access ticket. Includes in-person entry, livestream access, and recording. Community Ticket: Lower-cost ticket for students, lower-income attendees, carers, or anyone currently facing financial barriers. Includes in-person entry, livestream access, and recording. General Admission: Standard in-person ticket. Includes livestream access and recording. Final Release: Final allocation of in-person tickets. Includes livestream access and recording. Bring a friend (admits 2): Grab a +1 and share the fun! Includes in person tickets, livestream access and recording for both. OR Livestream & Recording: ONLY remote access ticket with livestream and recording included.All recordings will be shared privately within 4 weeks of the event. Venue: Trapeze Bar, 89 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3HX Please allow a little extra time if travelling during peak hours, major sporting events, or potential travel disruption. At the time of publishing, there are no planned strike actions. However, this may change, so we recommend checking your route before purchasing tickets if you may be affected, as tickets are non-refundable. https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/strikes For venue information, please visit: https://trapezebar.co.uk/ Age & IDs: the event takes place in a bar venue, you may be asked to show valid ID. Please bring identification if you look under 25, otherwise you may be refused entry to the establishment. Enquiries & Waitlist: Please do not contact the speaker or founder directly regarding tickets. Use the Eventbrite contact function or join the waitlist.If events sell out, additional dates may be released. Waitlist members should monitor their inbox, including spam or junk folders. Ticket offers remain valid for 6 hours before being released to the next person. On-the-Day Tickets: No tickets will be available at the door.Livestream Access: A livestream option is available. Access details will be shared with ticket holders ahead of the event. Photography & Recording: Photos and recordings may be taken for promotional and archival purposes.If you’d prefer not to be included, please email us in advance or speak to the team on the day. Talk Recording: The talk will be recorded and shared privately with attendees within 4 weeks. The recording is for personal use only.If you haven’t received it within 4 weeks, please check your spam or junk folder before getting in touch. The link will expire after 3 months. Arrival Time: Please arrive by 19:15 and be seated before the talk begins to avoid disruption. Stay in the Circle: You’ll be added to the Mind Circles Talks mailing list after booking. You can opt out at any time. Get Early-Release Tickets: Join our Inner Circle WhatsApp broadcast channel for early-release tickets and Mind Circles Talks updates: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb88bk9IHphC26a10B14