Universal characteristics of evolution and development are inherent in fetal autonomic brain maturation

Adverse prenatal environmental influences to the developing fetus are associated with mental and cardiovascular disease in later life. Universal developmental characteristics such as self-organization, pattern formation, and adaptation in the growing information processing system have not yet been sufficiently analyzed with respect to description of normal fetal development and identification of developmental disturbances. Fetal heart rate patterns are the only non-invasive order parameter of the developing autonomic brain available with respect to the developing complex organ system.

Source: Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical - February 28, 2018 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Alexander Schmidt, Ernst G. Schukat-Talamazzini, Janine Z öllkau, Adelina Pytlik, Sophia Leibl, Kathrin Kumm, Franziska Bode, Isabelle Kynass, Otto W. Witte, Ekkehard Schleussner, Uwe Schneider, Dirk Hoyer Source Type: research