The fascinating journey of the human life begins with two cells merging and continuing to grow into a perfectly designed apparatus comprised of multiple systems working together. Even before one draws his first breath, our nervous system plays the key role of creating a synergy in every single action and process. It all begins during fetal development, which can nowadays be observed and studied through modern imaging technologies, such as ultrasound. This gives the reader an insight on how every part of the nervous system develops and correlates with the developing body using a minimally invasive approach. This article gives an assessment of the knowledge we have regarding fetal neurophysiology and what has been learned about fetal motor and sensory development so far, as well as memory and learning, behavior and emotions and fetal cognitive functions reviewed for selected sections. Furthermore, the article provides a review of how different external factors can harm the fetus and how fetal stress presents a potential threat in fetal neurodevelopment with lasting consequences on brain structure and function. The complexity and maturation processes build up during pregnancy and continue postnatally, allowing further accommodation and development to show the astonishing capacity of brain to learn and adapt.
In the past decades, advances in modern imaging methods, especially three-dimensional/four-dimensional ultrasound (3D/4D US), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and fetal magnetoencephalography (fMEG), enabled the studies of the important neurodevelopmental events and opened the field of the investigation of fetal cognitive functions. Prenatal structural, functional and behavioral development, including the development of the central nervous system (CNS) and cognitive functional developments, are nowadays accessible to a better assessment due to the implementation of these methods. 3D/4D ultrasound imaging provides much important information about the fetus. It can detect various malformations and clarify suspicious findings, improve diagnostic accuracy, display fascinating fetal activity and also, it supports the advancements in fetal neurobehavioral and cognitive science. In this paper, a brief review of 3D/4D US assessed insights in the field of fetal neurodevelopment, particularly the development of fetal cognitive functions: sensory perception, motor action, emotions, learning, and memory, as well as the role of the fetal stress in cognitive development are discussed. Investigation of fetal cognitive functions is still in its beginning, but it is certain that future advances in the application of new imaging methods, such as different 3D/4D US modes and fMRI, will enable a better understanding of the cognitive abilities and functions of the fetus.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.