title: Early brain development toward shaping of human mind: an integrative psychoneurodevelopmental model in prenatal and perinatal medicine.
abstract: The article introduces an integrative psychoneurodevelopmental model of complex human brain and mind development based on the latest findings in prenatal and perinatal medicine in terms of integrative neuroscience. The human brain development is extraordinarily complex set of events and could be influenced by a lot of factors. It is supported by new insights into the early neuro-ontogenic processes with the help of structural 3D magnetic resonance imaging or diffusion tensor imaging of fetal human brain. Various factors and targets for neural development including birth weight variability, fetal and early-life programming, fetal neurobehavioral states and fetal behavioral responses to various stimuli and others are discussed. Molecular biology reveals increasing sets of genes families as well as transcription and neurotropic factors together with critical epigenetic mechanisms to be deeply employed in the crucial neurodevelopmental events. Another field of critical importance is psychoimmuno-neuroendocrinology. Various effects of glucocorticoids as well as other hormones, prenatal stress and fetal HPA axis modulation are thought to be of special importance for brain development. The early postnatal period is characterized by the next intense shaping of complex competences, induced mainly by the very unique mother - newborn´s interactions and bonding. All these mechanisms serve to shape individual human mind with complex abilities and neurobehavioral strategies. Continuous research elucidating these special competences of human fetus and newborn/child supports integrative neuroscientific approach to involve various scientific disciplines for the next progress in human brain and mind research, and opens new scientific challenges and philosophic attitudes. New findings and approaches in this field could establish new methods in science, in primary prevention and treatment strategies, and markedly contribute to the development of modern integrative and personalized medicine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology, Medicine and Integrative Neuroscience, St. Elizabeth University College of Health and Social Work, Bratislava, Slovakia. radhru@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Radovan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hruby
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrinology Letters, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lili M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology, Medicine and Integrative Neuroscience, St. Elizabeth University College of Health and Social Work, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Fedor-Freybergh
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009452:Neuroendocrinology; D011603:Psychophysiology