Fetal exposure to drugs may affect baby's brain development

Pregnant women may need treatment for their medical conditions, such as mood disorders or epilepsy

"In previous studies, we have shown that changes in cortical activity during sleep may provide important information about the neurological status of infants," said senior researcher Anton Tokariev

Studies have shown that exposure to antiepileptic and antidepressant drugs during fetal life leads to widespread changes in cerebral cortical networks, and that these effects may be related to the type of drug exposure

"The clinical significance of these findings is that some EEG findings are associated with subsequent neuropsychological development in children

New insights into early brain development

These studies provide a novel approach to assessing the effects of pharmaceutical formulations on the development of brain function in children

Professor Sampsa Vanhatalo said: "The EEG measurement technology developed by the BABA Centre and its associated state-of-the-art mathematical assessment of neural networks in the brain constitutes a breakthrough in early neurodevelopmental clinical research

Of particular importance, Vanhatalo believes, these EEG-based measurements open a window into how neurons work between cells

"Our new approach provides a general analytical framework to support future broad studies of how fetal brain development is affected by changes in the intrauterine environment