title: Neurobehavioral continuity from fetus to neonate.
abstract: Neurobehavior represents development of the central nervous system (CNS). Fetuses and newborns exhibit a large number of endogenously generated motor patterns, among which general movements are often investigated pre- and post-natally. Spontaneous activity is probably a more sensitive indicator of brain dysfunction than reactivity to sensory stimuli while testing reflexes. Nutritional stress at critical times during fetal development can have persistent and potentially irreversible effects particularly on brain growth and function. Unfavorable intrauterine environment can affect adversely brain growth. All endogenously generated movement patterns from un-stimulated CNS might be observed as early as from the seven to eight weeks' gestation, with a rich repertoire of movements within the next two or three weeks, continuing for five to six months postnatally. It is still uncertain whether a new scoring system for prenatal neurological assessment will be adequate for the distinction between normal and abnormal fetuses in low-risk pregnancies. The continuity of behavioral patterns from prenatal to postnatal life might answer these intriguing questions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh Cinical Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia. milan.stanojevic@optinet.hr
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanojevic
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurjak
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salihagić-Kadić
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vasilj
authors.forename: Berivoj
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miskovic
authors.forename: Afaf Naim
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Shaddad
authors.forename: Badreldeen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomasović
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal