Early Neurobehavioral Development: Neuromotor Integration and Prenatal Markers of Growth Öffentlichkeit

Lew, Whitney Hyun (2014)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/dz010q56p?locale=de
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Abstract

The detection of neurobehavioral factors in the neonate that indicates normal fetal development has been vital in suggesting the potential neurological maturity of the infant into adulthood. Fetal measures are used as markers of nervous system development in pregnancies. The fundamental question of this study is specifically, what are the trends of cerebral blood flow and fetal movement across gestational age? In this study, cerebral blood flow and fetal movement are looked at as fetal markers of prenatal neurobehavioral development. The neuromotor integration period at around 28 gestational weeks is proposed as a point of dynamic change in development. Background literature suggests a lateralization of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) trends, with the left hemisphere increasing at a faster rate of CBFV up to 28 weeks, and the right hemisphere having a higher CBFV starting from 28 gestational weeks. Research on fetal movement suggests that brief and spontaneous movements decrease over time and the frequency of whole-body movements increase. Results yielded no significant relationship between cerebral blood flow velocity and fetal movement, as the theoretical model would suggest. However, there was a relationship between the left and right hemisphere for cerebral blood flow, and the CBFV of left and right hemispheres crossed over at approximately 28-32 gestational weeks. There was a significant relationship among fetal movements, with 28-32 gestational weeks being a period of inflection for frequency trends. The results suggest that 28-32 gestational weeks may be a time of neuromotor integration.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Abstract......................................................................................................................................... 2

Introduction................................................................................................................................. 3

Methods....................................................................................................................................... 13

Results......................................................................................................................................... 15

Discussion.................................................................................................................................. 17

References.................................................................................................................................. 25

Tables.......................................................................................................................................... 33

Figures........................................................................................................................................ 36

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