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Neurobehavioral Consequences of Fetal Exposure to Gestational Stress

  • Chapter
Fetal Development

Abstract

Through intimate communications with the mother, the fetus receives information that is integrated into its neurodevelopmental program to prepare for life after birth. Because the fetal nervous system develops at rapid speed, at precise times and in a specific sequence from conception to birth, disruption in the timing or sequence of development results in tissue remodeling and altered function. Fetal exposures to maternal signals of psychobiological stress are associated with increased risk for behavioral disorders and alterations in brain structures. We have devoted nearly three decades exploring the effects of psychobiological stress in several large cohorts of mothers and their offspring. The focus of this chapter is on the persisting developmental plasticity induced by fetal exposure and adaptation to signals of stress and adversity. Specifically the emphasis is on the emotional, cognitive, and neurological consequences for the newborn, infant, toddler, and child, exposed as fetuses to maternal stress. We review evidence that maternal psychological states and experiences during pregnancy, including stress exposures, mood, fears, and concerns about the course of her pregnancy as well as the level of biological stress signals, exert programming influences on the developing fetus.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The device and administration influences the results (Kisilevsky, Fearon, & Muir 1998). On the mother’s abdomen we applied a 1 s administration of the VAS (72 dB, 75 Hz + 10 % harmonics ranging from 20 to 9000 Hz; EAL Model 146, Corometric Medical System, CT, USA).

  2. 2.

    It is unknown why measures of distress relevant to pregnancy have a greater impact on child outcome than measures of generalized anxiety. But it is probable that a woman’s fears, beliefs and concerns about pregnancy has direct and local implications for well-being and is the primary source of anxiety during pregnancy. As such, it may be the most important psychosocial index of anxiety that can affect birth and child outcome.

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Acknowledgments

This research reported here was supported by National Institute of Health grants NS-41298, HD-51852, HD-28413 HD-40967, HD-50662, HD-65823 and Conte Center award MH-96889.

We are grateful for the expert contributions of Claudia Buss, PhD, Cheryl Crippen, PhD, Kevin Head, BA, Christina Canino-Brown, MA, Kendra Leak, BA, Quetzel Class, PhD, Megan (Blair) Faulkner, BA, Natalie Hernandez, BA, Mariann Howland BA, Amanda Appel, MPH, Christine Dunkel-Schetter, PhD, and Cal Hobel, MD. Our program of research would not be possible without the participation of the families. Special gratitude is expressed especially to the families (mothers and children) who have continued in our longitudinal studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

    Curt A. Sandman PhD, Laura M. Glynn PhD & Elysia Poggi Davis PhD

  2. Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA

    Laura M. Glynn PhD

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA

    Elysia Poggi Davis PhD

Authors
  1. Curt A. Sandman PhD
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  2. Laura M. Glynn PhD
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  3. Elysia Poggi Davis PhD
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Correspondence to Curt A. Sandman PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Psychology Science Laboratories, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom

    Nadja Reissland

  2. Queen’s University, School of Nursing Queen’s University, KINGSTON, Ontario, Canada

    Barbara S. Kisilevsky

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Sandman, C.A., Glynn, L.M., Davis, E.P. (2016). Neurobehavioral Consequences of Fetal Exposure to Gestational Stress. In: Reissland, N., Kisilevsky, B. (eds) Fetal Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22023-9_13

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