My Tripod One-Minute Page
Tamika A. Hollingsworth

Hello, and welcome to the creation of my very first web page especially designed for psychology 303
your picture here
Seven week old fetus
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN BRAIN AND THE EFFFECT OF PRENATAL EXPOSURES
According to research there hasn't been many studies based on the development of the central nervous system (CNS)in humans. Most studies deal with the brain development of many other species' because the scenarios are supposed to be relatively similar. Normal healthy brain development can occur only if prenatal check-ups are regular and if there are no genetic causes by mom or dad. Many abnormalities of the fetal CNS develop because one of both parents have engaged in activities that allow teratogens to cross the placenta. Teratogens are defined as any environmental agent that causes damage during the prenatal period. Teratogens include drug and alcohol usage as well as prenatal nutritional deprivation.

Purpose of My Research
For those of us who have been fortunate enough to have had a tiny body growing inside of us, I wanted to explain just what is going on regarding the development of the brain during that specific period of time. Any problems during this time period can have serious consequences later in life.

NORMAL AND ABNORMAL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

*Human species
a. 1st milestone (occlusion)
b. 2nd milestone (meninges develop)
c. pre and postimplantation
*Non-human species
a. cell fate choice
b. neuronal growth
c. pre and postimplantation
CAUSES AND IMPACTS OF ABNORMAL DEVELOPMENT

*Early cellular environment

*Nutritional deprivation can be a risk factor for schizophrenia

*The effects of drugs and alcohol depend on the amount of consumption and specific critical periods of development

DYSFUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN

*Decreased olfactory bulb volume

*Auditory dysfunctions

*eye anomolis

References

Armant, D. R., and Saunders, D. E., (1996). Exposure of embryonic cells to alcohol: Contrasting effects during preimplantation and postimplantation development. Seminars in Perinatology, 20, 127 - 139.

Brown, M.D., A. S., Susser, M.D., E.S., Butler, Ph.D., P. D., Andrews, B.Sc., R. R., Kaufmann, M.D., C.A., and Gorman, M.D., J.M., (1996). Neurobiological plausibility of prenatal nutritional deprivation as a risk for schizophrenia. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 184, 71 - 83.

Catala, M., (1998). Embryonic and fetal development of structures associated with the cerebro-spinal fluid in man and other species part I: The ventricular system. Archives D Anatomie Et Dycytologie Patholigiques, 46, 153 - 169.

Friedler, G., (1996). Paternal exposures: Impact on reproductive and developmental outcome an overview. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 55, 691 - 700.

Levit, Ph.D., P., Reinoso, Ph.D., B., and Jones, Ph.D., L., (1998). The critical impact of early cellular environment on neuronal development. Preventive Medicine, 27, 180 - 183.

Questions?
e-mail me at tsierra1@lightspeed.net




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