Continuity between fetal and neonatal neurobehavior.
The human brain is very sensitive to environmental changes affecting its growth and development. Environmental changes influence neonatal behavior after birth, enabling continuity between prenatal and postnatal behavior, but postnatal adaptation could be considered as discontinuity. Thus there is the question of environmental discontinuity between intrauterine conditions characterized by existence of microgravity and extrauterine life with gravity as a developmental condition sine qua non. Four-dimensional ultrasound is currently being assessed as a functional prenatal screening test for detection of neurological impairment in utero. The Kurjak Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test (KANET) combines the assessment of fetal behavior, general movements, and three out of four signs that have been postnatally considered as symptoms of possible neurodevelopmental impairment (neurological thumb, overlapping sutures and small head circumference). Although the KANET has been tested on normal and high-risk pregnancies, the significance of the test for detection and prevention of neurodevelopmental disability is still questionable.
Division of Neonatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Sveti Duh, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. milan.stanojevic@optinet.hr
Milan
M
Stanojevic
Sanja
S
Zaputovic
Anita Pavicic
AP
Bosnjak
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D063305:Organ Dysfunction Scores; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D014893:Weightlessness