fMRI Reveals Fetal Brain Development

A new investigational imaging approach using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology is offering clues into fetal brain development. These resulting in vivo images are revealing different stages of fetal brain development. German researchers have observed that regions of the brain that are later responsible for sight are already active at this stage.

To gain insights into the development of the human brain in utero, the study group, from the computational imaging research lab from the Medical University (MedUni) of Vienna (Austria) observed 32 fetuses from the 21st to 38th week of pregnancy (an average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks). The architecture of the brain is developed predominantly during the middle trimester of pregnancy. Using fMRI scanning, it was possible to measure activity and thereby obtain data about the most important cortical and sub-cortical structures of the developing brain. During the period of the 26th to 29th week of pregnancy, in particular, short-range neuronal connections developed especially actively, while in contrast to this, long-range nerve connections showed more linear growth during pregnancy.

“It became apparent that the areas responsible for sensory perception are developed first and only then, around four weeks later, do the areas responsible for more complex, cognitive skills come along,” said first author Dr. Andras Jakab, from the computational imaging research lab at the MedUni Vienna.

In another study, the study group led by Drs. Veronika Schöpf and Georg Langs was able to demonstrate a correlation of eye movement and areas of the brain, which are later responsible to process vision as early as the 30th to the 36th weeks of pregnancy. The reality that newborn infants first have to learn to process visual stimuli after birth is already known. It has now been possible to demonstrate that this important development starts even before birth. The researchers studied the relationship between eye movements and brain activity. Even at this stage of development, motor visual movement is tied to the areas in the visual cortex of the brain responsible for processing optical signals. “The relationship between eye movement and the responsible areas of the brain has therefore been demonstrated for the first time in utero,” explained first author Dr. Schöpf.

A more detailed study is ongoing at the computational imaging research lab and the department of neuroradiology and musculoskeletal radiology at the MedUni Vienna. The investigators are currently working on a reference model for healthy brain development to be able to identify malformations and pathologies in fetuses.

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Medical University of Vienna