Functional Development of the Fetal Brain
Functional and structural development are interlinked. This topic is presented in three main domains:
- Electrochemical development
- Development of cerebral energy metabolism and vasoregulation
- Behavioural expression of fetal brain function
Electrochemical Development
- Two primary processes:
- Formation of stable synapses under excitatory and inhibitory control
- Emergence of sensory-driven and behaviourally relevant electrical activity
- GABAergic activity:
- GABA is initially excitatory due to reversed chloride gradients
- Excitatory GABA facilitates early neural activity
- Tonic, non-vesicular GABA release diffuses paracrinally
