fetal development Research Articles

Even the fetus has gut bacteria

Neuroscience NewsOctober 23, 2019

Both human and mouse fetuses have their own microbiome, which is transmitted from the mother. Findings provide new avenues for interventions during pregnancy to stimulate the fetal microbiome when the mother shows risk of premature birth.... Read More...

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Stress during pregnancy may affect baby’s sex and risk of preterm birth

Neuroscience NewsOctober 15, 2019

Stress and depression during pregnancy can affect the fetus' sex and increase the risk of preterm birth. Mothers who experienced physical and psychological stress during pregnancy were less likely to have a baby boy. During pregnancy, the fetuses of stressed mothers had reduced heart rate movement coupling, indicating slower central nervous system development.... Read More...

Neuroscience6 min read

Image is a diagram showing how anesthesia disrupts neurodevelopment

Anesthesia sends neurons down the wrong path in unborn rat babies

Neuroscience NewsApril 12, 2019

In utero exposure to anesthesia appears to disrupt the migration of neurons to developing brain areas critical to language and cognition in rats. ... Read More...

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Autism Associated with Zinc Deficiency in Early Development

Neuroscience NewsNovember 9, 2018

A new study reveals a mechanistic link between zinc levels in fetal development, genes and abnormal neural connections associated with autism.... Read More...

AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles6 min read

Image shows a pregnant woman surrounded by smoke.

Vaping While Pregnant May Cause Craniofacial Birth Defects

Neuroscience NewsNovember 16, 2017

According to researchers, the use of e-cigarettes during pregnancy may result in facial and oral cavity defects in offspring.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscience7 min read

Not So Sweet: Liquorice Consumption Has Harmful Effects on Fetal Development

Neuroscience NewsFebruary 3, 2017

Children whose mothers consumed large amounts of liquorice while pregnant performed worse than their peers in cognitive reasoning tests and expressed more ADHD-like symptoms. Additionally, females entered into puberty early than those who did not have fetal exposure to glycyrrhizin.... Read More...

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