what is the course of prenatal development, including development of the brain?

The major stages of prenatal brain development occur throughout the nine months of pregnancy, including the creation of the neural tube in the first month, the growth of the cerebral cortex in the second month, the development of the senses in the fourth month and the separation of the cortex into lobes in the sixth month.

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How does the brain develop during the prenatal period?

Feb 13, 2006 · The fetal period of prenatal develop marks more important changes in the brain. This period of development begins during the ninth week and lasts until birth. This stage is marked by amazing change and growth. The early body systems and structures established in the embryonic stage continue to develop.

What is prenatal development in psychology?

Feb 27, 2022 · The major stages of prenatal brain development occur throughout the nine months of pregnancy, including the creation of the neural tube in the first month, the growth of the cerebral cortex in the second month, the development of the senses in the fourth month and the separation of the cortex into lobes in the sixth month.

What are the stages of prenatal development?

This lifespan development is organized into different stages based on age. Prenatal development is the process that occurs during the 40 weeks prior to the birth of a child, and is heavily influenced by genetics. There are three stages of prenatal development—germinal, embryonic, and fetal. Prenatal development is also organized into trimesters: the first trimester ends with the …

What is brain development in the early years?

May 15, 2013 · The second trimester is the fourth, fifth, and sixth months of a pregnancy. During the course of the second trimester, the brain becomes fully developed.

What is the prenatal development of the brain?

The fetal brain begins to develop during the third week of gestation. Neural progenitor cells begin to divide and differentiate into neurons and glia, the two cell types that form the basis of the nervous system. By the ninth week, the brain appears as a small, smooth structure.Nov 20, 2018

What are the prenatal stages of development?

There are three stages of prenatal development: germinal, embryonic, and fetal.

What are the 3 major stages of prenatal development?

This union marks the beginning of the prenatal period, which in humans encompasses three distinct stages: (1) the pre-embryonic stage, the first two weeks of development, which is a period of cell division and initial differentiation (cell maturation), (2) the embryonic period, or period of organogenesis, which lasts ...

What part of the brain forms first in prenatal development?

The brain begins with the neural tube, formed in the first month of the embryo's growth. The neural tube closes around week 6 or 7, at which point the brain separates into three parts: front brain, midbrain, and hindbrain.Apr 14, 2020

What are the 5 stages of conception?

The Journey from Egg to EmbryoConception: From Egg to Embryo. ... Ovulation. ... Moving Into the Fallopian Tube. ... The Sperm's Long Journey. ... Fertilization: Sperm Penetrates Egg. ... The Cells Start to Divide. ... Implantation. ... Pregnancy Hormones.More items...•Jan 15, 2021

What is the most important stage of prenatal development?

The embryonic period is the most critical period of development because of the formation of internal and external structures.

What are the 3 stages of prenatal development quizlet?

11.1 Outline the major events of the three stages of prenatal development. Prenatal development proceeds through the germinal (first 2 weeks), embryonic (2 weeks to 2 months), and fetal stages (2 months to birth) as the zygote is differentiated into a human organism.

When does most brain development occur in pregnancy?

By the end of the seventh week of pregnancy — five weeks after conception — your baby's brain and face are the focus of development.

What are the 4 stages of embryonic development?

1.1 Fertilization.1.2 Cleavage.1.3 Blastulation.1.4 Implantation.1.5 Embryonic disc.

What is the course of prenatal development including development of the brain what typically occurs during each of the three periods of prenatal development?

The process of prenatal development occurs in three main stages. The first two weeks after conception are known as the germinal stage, the third through the eighth week is known as the embryonic period, and the time from the ninth week until birth is known as the fetal period.Jun 1, 2020

Which stage of prenatal development is the longest quizlet?

What is the longest stage of prenatal development? The fetal stage.

What is the role of experience in brain development?

Experience also affects the formation of the connections (synapses) among neurons to establish pathways for the different hierarchies of brain function. These pathways govern or control our intellectual, emotional, psychological, physiological and physical responses to what we do every day.

What is prenatal development?

Prenatal Development. Developmental psychologists consider the process of human development as it relates to physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. This lifespan development is organized into different stages based on age. Prenatal development is the process that occurs during the 40 weeks prior to the birth of a child, ...

When is the fetal stage?

Fetal Stage. The remainder of prenatal development occurs during the fetal stage, which lasts from week 9 until birth (usually between 38 and 40 weeks). When the organism is about nine weeks old, the embryo is called a fetus.

Why is gene expression important?

Gene expression is carefully regulated in every organism to allow the organism to adapt to differing conditions. The expression of genetic information in a given cell or organism is neither random nor fully pre-programmed. Genes can either be dominant or recessive, meaning they can either be expressed or hidden.

What is deoxyribonucleic acid?

deoxyribonucleic acid: A genetic component found in all living things which it is associated with the transmission of genetic information; consists of a polymer formed from nucleotides which are shaped into a double helix.

How many pairs of chromosomes are there in the human body?

The first 22 pairs of chromosomes are known as autosomes and determine things such as eye and hair color. The last pair, known as the sex chromosomes, determine a person’s biological sex: females have two X chromosomes, while males have an X and a Y chromosome.

When does the second trimester end?

Prenatal development is also organized into trimesters: the first trimester ends with the end of the embryonic stage, the second trimester ends at week 20, and the third trimester ends at birth.

What is the structure of a chromosome?

chromosome: A structure in the cell nucleus that contains DNA, histone protein, and other structural proteins. conception: The fertilization of an ovum by a sperm to form a zygote. zygote: A fertilized egg cell.

When does the brain develop during pregnancy?

Lesson Summary. Brain development occurs at an amazing speed during the prenatal period, and development occurs throughout all three trimesters of pregnancy. Proper prenatal care is essential to prenatal brain development because of the rapid pace at which it occurs. The neural tube develops in the first month.

When does the brain develop?

The first three months of pregnancy, or the first trimester, is when basic brain structure begins to form. In the first month, just 16 days after fertilization, an embryo forms the neural tube. The neural tube is the earliest nervous system tissue and eventually develops into the brain and the spinal cord.

What degree does Lisa have?

Lisa has taught at all levels from kindergarten to college and has a master's degree in human relations. The prenatal brain develops at an amazing speed. This lesson provides an overview of this brain development throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy and highlights key stages. Create an account.

What is the name of the cell that conducts electrical impulses?

A neuron is another name for a nerve cell, or the cells that conduct electrical impulses and make up the brain, spinal column, and nerves. During the eighth month, major brain areas, such as the visual cortex and auditory cortex, are developed.

How long does it take to count to one billion?

After doing the math, this means that it would take approximately 32 years to count to one billion. Now, let's consider the fact that one tiny cell in an embryo grows into a fully-developed brain with 100 billion cells ...

What are the stages of prenatal development?

There are three stages of prenatal development: germinal, embryonic, and fetal. Let’s take a look at what happens to the developing baby in each of these stages.

How long does it take for a fetus to develop?

From 9–12 weeks, the sex organs begin to differentiate. At about 16 weeks, the fetus is approximately 4.5 inches long. Fingers and toes are fully developed, and fingerprints are visible. By the time the fetus reaches the sixth month of development (24 weeks), it weighs up to 1.4 pounds.

Why is routine prenatal care important?

According to the National Institutes of Health ( [NIH], 2013), routine prenatal care is important because it can reduce the risk of complications to the mother and fetus during pregnancy. In fact, women who are trying to become pregnant or who may become pregnant should discuss pregnancy planning with their doctor.

How much does a baby weigh?

Newborn infants only weigh about 7.5 pounds but their physical, cognitive, and psychosocial skills grow and change as they move through developmental stages. In this section, you’ll learn about many of ...

What is the process of conception?

Conception occurs when sperm fertilizes an egg and forms a zygote (Figure 1). A zygote begins as a one-cell structure that is created when a sperm and egg merge. The genetic makeup and sex of the baby are set at this point.

How many cells are there in mitosis?

After 5 days of mitosis there are 100 cells, and after 9 months there are billions of cells. As the cells divide, they become more specialized, forming different organs and body parts. In the germinal stage, the mass of cells has yet to attach itself to the lining of the mother’s uterus.

Can you drink alcohol while pregnant?

Alcohol and most drugs cross the placenta and affect the fetus. Alcohol is not safe to drink in any amount during pregnancy. Alcohol use during pregnancy has been found to be the leading preventable cause of mental retardation in children in the United States (Maier & West, 2001).

When does the brain develop?

In general, brain development begins a few weeks after conception and is thought to be complete by early adulthood. The basic structure of the brain is laid down primarily during the prenatal period and early childhood, and the formation and refinement of neural networks continues over the long term.

What is brain research?

Much of brain research is descriptive and simply tells us how the brain contributes to the development of behavior that is typical of young children (e. g., language and face processing). However, some of this research has implications on the decisions we make for young children.

What is EEG used for?

Measurement techniques such as electroencephalogram (EEG) and event related potentials (ERP) can be used to study infants, children, and adults, and this flexibility has allowed researchers to investigate a variety of developmental processes.

Who is Adrienne Tierney?

Adrienne L. Tierney, MSc, Ed M, is a doctoral student in human development at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has a background in neuroscience and is currently involved in the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Her dissertation research is on brain development in children with autism. Charles A. Nelson III, PhD, is a professor ...

When can babies discriminate?

Before the time they are 6 months old, infants can discriminate among sounds of almost any language. Between 6 and 12 months, the brain begins to specialize in discriminating sounds of the native language and loses the ability to discriminate sounds in nonnative languages (Kuhl, Tsao, & Liu, 2003).

Can cataracts be left untreated?

The longer the cataracts are left untreated, however, the lower the effect of experience on the outcome . As demonstrated above, both speech and faces are initially processed by a broadly tuned window that then narrows with experience, yet the window can remain broader if experience includes a wide range of inputs.

What are neural stem cells?

The neural stem cells are capable of producing all of the different cells that make up the brain and central nervous system, and for this reason the neural stem cells are usually called the neural progenitor cells. Open in a separate window. Fig. 5. The major events of gastulation occur between E13 and E20.

How many neurons are in the human brain?

The human brain is arguably the most complex of all biological systems. The mature brain is composed of more than 100 billion neurons (Pakkenberg and Gundersen 1997). Neuronsare the information processing cells in the brain (see Fig. 2).

Where do neurons migrate?

Soon after they are produced, neurons migrate away from the proliferative regions of the VZ.

What is the function of the ventricular system?

The ventricular system has a number of important functions including cushioning and protection of the brain, removal of waste material, and transport of hormones and other substances (Brodal 2010). During brain development the walls of the ventricles are the site of most neuron production.

How does the brain develop?

How well a brain develops depends on many factors in addition to genes, such as: 1 Proper nutrition starting in pregnancy 2 Exposure to toxins or infections 3 The child’s experiences with other people and the world

How can a baby learn and grow?

To learn and grow appropriately, a baby’s brain has to be healthy and protected from diseases and other risks. Promoting the development of a healthy brain can start even before pregnancy. For example, a healthy diet and the right nutrients like sufficient folic acid will promote a healthy pregnancy and a healthy nervous system in the growing baby. Vaccinations can protect pregnant women from infections that can harm the brain of the unborn baby.

Why is early childhood important?

The importance of early childhood experiences for brain development . Children are born ready to learn, and have many skills to learn over many years. They depend on parents, family members, and other caregivers as their first teachers to develop the right skills to become independent and lead healthy and successful lives.

What is the importance of nutrition in pregnancy?

Proper nutrition starting in pregnancy. Exposure to toxins or infections. The child’s experiences with other people and the world. Nurturing and responsive care for the child’s body and mind is the key to supporting healthy brain development. Positive or negative experiences can add up to shape a child’s development and can have lifelong effects. ...

What are the risks of pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the brain can be affected by many types of risks, such as by infectious diseases like Cytomegalovirus or Zika virus, by exposure to toxins, including from smoking or alcohol, or when pregnant mothers experience stress, trauma, or mental health conditions like depression.

How does stress affect the brain?

Exposure to stress and trauma can have long-term negative consequences for the child’s brain, whereas talking, reading, and playing can stimulate brain growth. Ensuring that parents, caregivers, and early childhood care providers have the resources and skills to provide safe, stable, nurturing, and stimulating care is an important public health ...

What is a newborn screening?

Newborn screening can detect conditions that are potentially dangerous to the child’s brain, like phenylketonuria (PKU). external icon. Healthy brain growth in infancy continues to depend on the right care and nutrition. Because children’s brains are still growing, they are especially vulnerable to traumatic head injuries, infections, or toxins, ...

When does the brain develop in the fetus?

Fetal brain development starts probably before you even realize you’ve conceived. When you’re just 5 weeks pregnant, the first neural cells begin to divide and differentiate into neurons and glia (the two types of cells that form the nervous system). Also at about week 5 of pregnancy, the neural plate folds onto itself to form the neural tube, ...

When does a baby's brain develop?

Your baby’s brain continues to develop in the coming weeks, endowing him with a remarkable range of involuntary movements like stretching, yawning and sucking by the end of the first trimester and more coordinated movements in the second trimester. That said, the brainstem, which controls vital functions like heart rate and breathing, ...

What are the different parts of the brain?

There are five different regions of the brain that develop, each responsible for different functions: 1 Cerebrum: The biggest part of the brain, and it's responsible for thinking, remembering and feeling. This is where the cerebral cortex and its various lobes (including the frontal and temporal lobes) reside. 2 Cerebellum: The area in charge of motor control. 3 Brain stem: The engine driving many of your baby's most vital functions, including heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. 4 Pituitary gland: This pea-sized gland releases hormones into the body that are responsible for growth, metabolism and more. 5 Hypothalamus: This area deals with body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and emotions.

What is the first system to develop?

The fetal nervous system — i.e. your baby's brain, spinal cord and nerves — is one of the very first systems to develop. In fact, it's making big strides before you even know you're pregnant.

How long does it take for a neural tube to form?

A mere 16 days after conception , your fetus's neural plate forms (think of it as the foundation of your baby's brain and spinal cord). It grows longer and folds onto itself, until that fold morphs into a groove and that groove turns into a tube — the neural tube.

Which lobe of the brain is responsible for decision making?

The prefrontal lobe is the last area of the brain to develop, starting during the teen years. The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in what you might call “adulting” functions: goal-oriented decision making, memory encoding and retrieval, language and even intelligence.

What is the brain stem?

Brain stem: The engine driving many of your baby's most vital functions, including heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. Pituitary gland: This pea-sized gland releases hormones into the body that are responsible for growth, metabolism and more.