Prenatal Brain Development Matthew Brodsky Summary

The latest research into development and learning of babies and young children shows that early stimulation are vital to the healthy development of brain. Babies are born with 100 billion neuron cells and they need to connect together in order to function. Many of these connections are made as result of what a baby senses and experiences. Stimulation, sufficient sleep and healthy diet makes a difference in allowing connections to be made. Development of brain begins well before birth. Neurons (cells in the brain which transmit electrical impulses to other cells) are formed between the 10th and 20th week of pregnancy. These cells are critical as they will later join together to allow the brain to function properly. Electrical pulses pass between cells via dendrites and axons which causes the connection between the neuron cells. The dendrites and axons of the neurons develop and begin the process of joining up in the final two months of pregnancy. Those that have not made enough strong connections are killed off and this is one reason why some children are

When an embryo becomes a fetus at eight weeks, it is approximately 3 centimeters; by the time the fetus is considered full-term, he or she may be 50 centimeters (Brisbane 60). The fetal stage, that takes place during week 9 to birth, result in a whole bunch of changes. (Brisbane 61). During the fetal stage, all parts of the body mature, and the overall of the baby size increases. Although all of the organ systems were formed during embryonic development, they continue to develop and grow during the fetal stage as well. During the third month, the reproductive system becomes developed and the sex of the baby becomes apparent (Staff). For girls, the ovarian follicles begin to form and for boys the prostate gland. Throughout months four through six, the heartbeat grows stronger and other body systems become further developed (Brisbane 63). Features such as fingernails, hair, eyelashes and toenails form. During the period from seven months until birth, the fetus continues to develop, put on weight, and prepare for life outside the womb (Brisbane 64). The lungs begin to expand and contract, preparing the muscles for breathing (Brisbane 64). The time in which the baby is born is a very critical. In some situations, a baby can be born as early as 7 months. When a baby is born too early, his ar her organs are not usually fully formed. This can result in many complications and health problems. Including, If premature pregnancy is the case, the baby would need some intensive care in hospitals. If the baby survives the stages, at the end of the nine month of pregnancy the baby will turn to a head-down position to prepare for birth. If the baby is not in the head-down position and in breech position a cesarean section may be required, which can cause many more complications. If a baby passes all these crucial factors, it is guaranteed to be born

If born at this time, the baby will be considered premature and require special care.

The brain continues to grow and rapidly develops in three stages known as Neurogenesis, Synaptogensis, and synaptic pruning. Neurogenesis describes the process of rapid division within the nervous system to create functional regions of the brain where most of the process is complete before birth while some regions continue to form after birth such as hippocampal cells. Synaptogensis forms new connections between neurons as over time connections increase in density where some only form one synapse and others form hundreds of thousands. Synaptic pruning removes synapses due to the fact some are only needed temporarily, some are damaged or become dysfunctional, or that some are not used often enough so they are removed for specialization. The newly formed fetus from weeks 9 to 12 shows signs of simple movement with reflexes in arms and legs while sex organs begin to differentiate. Fingers, fingerprints, and toes are fully formed around week 16 and around week 24 the fetus develops response to sound. More remarkably the brain doubles in size between week 16 and 28, while developing basic behavior. The fetus gains greater coordination skills as the cerebral cortex grows larger and personality also develops. Around the 28th week the fetus can mediate sensory input as thalamic brain connections form, such as responding to bright light from within the dark womb. Growth slows down around the 30th or 32nd week but the fetus continues to gain weight and by week 37 has developed all organ systems necessary to survive outside the uterus. Prenatal development ends with the birth of the fetus around 38 to 40 weeks

Babies grow and change so much in the first two years of life, and many of those growth are directly related to the brain. Brain grows so rapidly than any other organ and reaches 75% by the age of 2. Communication within the central nervous system and spinal cord begins with neurons. The final part of the brain prefrontal cortex matures.

It is imperative for a mother to take care of herself while pregnant. This will give the fetus a better chance at healthy developmental milestones. One way to achieve this is through a healthy diet which aids fetal brain development. Moreover, taking the supplemental vitamins recommended by the physician helps too. Finally, a mother should try to eliminate too much stress in her life while pregnant. This can have a negative impact on the pregnancy. This is what healthy development looks like during conception. At 3 months the baby is fully formed. The hands, arms, feet and toes are all present. Also, the bodily organs are present but need to mature more at this point. During the 3-6 month period is where the most rapid brain development takes place (Hutchison, 2013). This is the trimester where you begin to feel movement. At 6-9 months the baby continues to grow and mature to prepare for entry into the world.

The prenatal development generally refers to those processes which start at least 40 weeks prior to the birth of the child (1). However, the period of organogenesis happens during the third through the eight weeks of development and gives rise to the the three germ layers known as ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Those three germs layer will later on form specific tissues and organs. (2). The production and development of the organs also known as organogenesis begins thereafter the formations of the three organs (3). During he development of the different phases, which include growth, morphogenesis, and differentiation, the fetus is completely

I often look at newborns in amusement and wonder what were are thinking about. Never did I stop for a moment to think about the complex wiring of the brain. It is known that the complete development of the brain is necessary for the normal physical and mental processes of a person but I wrongly assumed that such development is completed before birth.

Within the video the Secret Life of the Brain on the “babies brain”, which is the first episode, focuses on the formation of the infant brain. Taking an in depth examination on the factors of brain development: brain organization, the roles of genetics, and environment. With just a matter of a few weeks after conception brain cells begin to form spontaneously at a rather alarming rate. From birth to age one an infant's brain is primarily formed through external influences and experiences.

Infant learning and brain development is fragile and contingent upon numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The most critical time frame for infant brain development is from the second trimester to the first three months of life (Marshall, 2011). During this time, neural pathways are forming, areas of the brain are maturing, and brain development is rapid. From infancy until the age of 3 years, neural pathways are still being formed in response to stimulation and for this reason, it is extremely important for caregivers and parents to be aware of the many factors that can influence brain development in infants (Marshall, 2011).

First trimester: By 12 weeks of pregnancy the foetus will be fully formed. The ovum grows and develops certain important parts of the baby’s body such as spinal cord, nervous system, gastrointestinal system, heart and lungs in the first four weeks from conception. The heart starts beating and brain and other organs forms by eight weeks. At this stage, the face is formed and arms and legs start to move. The baby grows to 3 inches long and

The importance of defining an infant's conceptional age arises because the EEG (or a PSG) of a normal infant is more dependent upon the age of the brain following conception than the number of days following birth. Except when stressed, or in situations involving encephalopathy or medicationrelated factors, the EEG or PSG of a neonate reflects the actual developmental age of the brain. The brain, EEG, and PSG of an infant continue to develop and mature at a similar rate, independent of whether the infant is in utero or postdelivery. An EEG or PSG of a normal premature infant born at 32 weeks of gestational age whose chronologic age is 8 weeks should resemble that of a normal infant born at 40 weeks of gestational age 2 days earlier. The EEG and PSG patterns observed in infants 6 months or

When you are born your brain is in taking all the different sounds and figures around you. Your brain was developing before you even arrived in the world that you are now aware of. After conception your brain starts to grow at a rapid rate; neural tubes

A newborns brain growth is rapid and their growth and development reflects their experiences and social relationships (Berger,2014). From two weeks after conception until two weeks after birth the brain grows more rapidly than any other organ in the body (Berger,2014). We will now examine what biologically takes place inside the brain of an infant to better try to understand why development at this stage is so crucial. A newborns brain has billions of neurons, that are located in the portion of the brain called the Cortex, and they regulate and control thought, feeling, and sensation (Berger, 2014). In addition, research has found that children younger than

The fetal stage is the stage in which is marked by rapid growth and preparation