engleski

Four-dimensional sonography in the assessment of fetal functional neurodevelopment and behavioral patterns

During the past few decades morphological studies of fetal brains as well as ultrasonic imaging of fetal intrauterine activities in real time have provided invaluable information avout the most important events in the development of human central nervous system. It has been shown that development of fetal brain proceeds through a sequence of very complicated histogenetic processes, which are reflected in the fetal behavioral patterns. Major developmental events, such as establishment of neural connections in different regions of the brain are accompanied by the occurence of new patterns of fetal activities or by the transformation of the existing patterns. It has been suggested that the ultrasound assessment of fetal behavior could be used for the evaluation of the integrity of fetal CNS and possibly, for the detection of functional or structural brain disorders. The new, advanced imaging techniques such as four-dimensional sonography, might open a new perspective for the studying of fetal behavioral patterns and facilitate the development of diagnostic strategies for early detection or prevention of brain dysfunctions. The importance of these investigations is underlined by the recent findings that many environmental influences causing the fetal stress can interfere with the fetal neurodevelopment and leave the long term and profound consequences on brain structure and function. The major events in the functional development of fetal brain, as well as the influence of environmental factors on fetal neurodevelopment will be discussed in this review.

fetal neurodevelopment; behavioral patterns; 4D ultrasound; fetal stress; brain lesions

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