HEALTH
Baby brain activity changes dramatically before and after birth
WORDS EMILY COOKE
New research has shown that neuronal activity in certain brain regions increases significantly around birth
© Julia-Marlen Schiefelbein; Berlin State Office for Monument Preservation / Shutterstock
Scientists have provided unprecedented insight into how
the activity of neurons in the brain changes across birth. Researchers
analysed 184 brain scans collected from 140 fetuses and infants of gestational ages between 25 and 55 weeks post-conception. A typical pregnancy lasts approximately 40 weeks, so these datasets gave the researchers a good snapshot of what the brain looks like before and after birth. The scans revealed that the activity of neurons within certain regions of the brain increased significantly across birth. These regions include the sensorimotor network, which is responsible for processing external stimuli, like sights and sounds, and for coordinating movements. They also include the subcortical network, which acts like a relay hub for information from different brain regions.