Is there a sex difference in fetal behavior? A comparison of the KANET test between male and female fetuses

Hata, Toshiyuki; Hanaoka, Uiko; AboEllail, Mohamed Ahmed Mostafa; Uematsu, Rina; Noguchi, Junko; Kusaka, Takashi; Kurjak, Asım

doi:10.1515/jpm-2015-0387

Cited by 22 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In line with most previous research (Conde et al, ; de Vries et al, ; Hata et al, ; Mulder et al, ; Reissland et al, ), no differences were found between males and females in mean levels and trajectories of breathing movements. However, sex differences were found for general movements, such that male were more active than female fetuses at 21 weeks of gestation and males had a steeper decline in general movements incidence during the second half of pregnancy.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Fetal movements appear to be associated with a number of factors including fetal sex, gestational age at birth, and birth weight. Regarding fetal sex, the results are inconsistent, with some studies showing that male fetuses are more active than female fetuses (Almli, Ball, & Wheeler, ; DiPietro, Hodgson, Costigan, Hilton, & Johnson, ), while most studies failed to find any sex differences in fetal movements incidence (Conde et al, ; de Vries, Visser, & Prechtl, ; Hata et al, ; Mulder et al, ; Reissland, Francis, Aydin, Mason, & Exley, ; Robles de Medina, Visser, Huizink, Buitelaar, & Mulder, ). The absence of breathing movements has been identified as the best predictor of preterm birth (Boots et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developmental trajectories of general and breathing movements in fetal twins

Tendais

Figueiredo

Mulder

et al. 2019

Developmental Psychobiology

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This study examined the developmental trajectories of general and breathing movements in fetal twins. Fetal movement patterns were assessed from real‐time ultrasound recordings performed at 12‐15, 20‐23, and 28‐32 weeks of gestation in 42 twin pairs. Results indicated that both general movements and breathing movements followed a curvilinear, inverted U‐shaped curve. Developmental trajectories were unrelated within pairs of twins and were not associated with gestational age at birth and birth weight. However, sex differences were found for general movements with males displaying more time making general movements at 21 weeks and a steeper decline in time spent making general movements during the second half of pregnancy than females. These age‐related changes in fetal movements may reflect CNS development. These findings also suggest that twins’ behavioral development is largely independent of co‐twin development, gestational age at birth, and birth weight, but not of fetal sex.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental trajectories of general and breathing movements in fetal twins

Tendais

Figueiredo

Mulder

et al. 2019

Developmental Psychobiology

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“…There was no difference in KANET scores between male and female fetuses in the third trimester of pregnancy. 35 When evaluating the effect of parity on fetal behavior between primi-and multiparas, there was no significant difference in the total KANET score between the two groups. 36 However, a significant difference in just one fetal movement, isolated eye blinking, between the groups was found.…”

Section: Kurjak's Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Testmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…This study suggests that ethnicity should be considered when evaluating fetal behavior, especially during the assessment of fetal facial expressions. There was no difference in KANET scores between male and female fetuses in the third trimester of pregnancy . When evaluating the effect of parity on fetal behavior between primi‐ and multiparas, there was no significant difference in the total KANET score between the two groups .…”

Section: Kurjak's Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Testmentioning

confidence: 92%

Current status of fetal neurodevelopmental assessment: Four‐dimensional ultrasound study

Hata

2016

J of Obstet and Gynaecol

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With the latest advent of four-dimensional (4-D) ultrasound, fetal neurobehavioral or neurodevelopmental assessment can be easily and readily performed. Using this technique, typical fetal movements and behavioral patterns have become apparent in all three trimesters of pregnancy. In twin pregnancy, 4-D ultrasound facilitates the precise evaluation of inter-twin contact and intra-pair stimulation. New fetal neurobehavioral assessment tests, such as Kurjak's Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test and the Fetal Observable Movement System, may reflect the normal and abnormal neurological development of the fetus, and will facilitate more precise assessments of fetal neurobehavior or neurodevelopment, and fetal brain and central nervous system functions. In this review article, I also discuss interesting topics regarding maternal and fetal stress, fetal pain, and fetal consciousness. Four-dimensional ultrasound has opened the door to new scientific fields, such as 'fetal neurology' and 'fetal psychology,' and fetal neurobehavioral science is at the dawn of a new era. Knowledge on fetal neurobehavior and neurodevelopment will be advanced through fetal behavioral research using this technique.

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“…3 The scoring system is as follows: 0-5 is abnormal, 6-9 is borderline, and 10-16 is normal. [4][5][6][7] However, it must be remembered that the modified KANET assessment still involves a learning curve, and it may be unfamiliar to beginners. Furthermore, this test necessitates high-level operator-dependent 4D reconstruction of fetal behaviors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mini KANET: Simple Fetal Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test

Hanaoka¹,

Mori²,

Koyano³

et al. 2012

Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

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Objective: The objective of this study is to develop a simple antenatal fetal neurodevelopmental test [Mini Kurjak's antenatal neurodevelopmental test (Mini KANET)] for the prediction of postnatal developmental disabilities. Methods: Three hundred and fifty-three healthy fetuses between 28 and 38 weeks of gestation were examined using a four-dimensional ultrasound. Fetal behavior was assessed with the Mini KANET, which consists of three parameters (isolated eye blinking, facial alteration or mouth opening, and isolated leg movement). A score range of 0-1 was characterized as abnormal, and 2-6 was normal. Diagnostic indices for the prediction of postnatal developmental disabilities were compared between the modified and Mini KANET assessments. Results: There were 334 normal (94.6%) and 19 abnormal (5.4%) cases among the 353 fetuses studied with the Mini KANET. Four cases of postnatal developmental disabilities were noted among the 334 normal fetuses (1.19%), whereas four cases of developmental disabilities were found among the 19 abnormal fetuses (21.05%) (p < 0.0001). There was a significant difference in sensitivity between the modified (37.5%) and Mini KANET (50%) assessments (p = 0.001), whereas no significant differences were noted for other diagnostic indices between the two assessments. Conclusion: The Mini KANET may become a simple antenatal fetal neurodevelopmental test for the prediction of postnatal developmental disabilities in healthy fetuses. However, the data and their interpretation in the present study should be taken with some degree of caution because of the small number of subjects studied. Further studies involving a larger sample size are needed to assess the validity of the Mini KANET for the prediction of postnatal developmental disabilities, comparing with the results of modified KANET.

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Is there a sex difference in fetal behavior? A comparison of the KANET test between male and female fetuses

Abstract: Our results show that there is no difference in fetal behavior between male and female fetuses in the third trimester of pregnancy. These results suggest that 4D ultrasound study examining fetal behavior does not need to consider the factor of fetal sex.

Cited by 22 publications

References 13 publications

Developmental trajectories of general and breathing movements in fetal twins

Developmental trajectories of general and breathing movements in fetal twins

Current status of fetal neurodevelopmental assessment: Four‐dimensional ultrasound study

Mini KANET: Simple Fetal Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test

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