Newborns Experience Rapid Brain Connectivity Growth

A study using brain imaging of fetuses and infants reveals a rapid increase in functional brain connectivity at birth, particularly in subcortical, sensorimotor, and superior frontal regions. This reorganization aids adaptation to the external world and highlights the sensitivity of specific brain networks to environmental factors. The research provides insights into early brain adaptability and lays the groundwork for exploring how factors like prenatal adversity and prematurity influence brain development.