Abstract
Converging evidence from clinical and preclinical studies suggests that fetal vulnerability
to adverse prenatal exposures increases the risk for neuropsychiatric diseases such
as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. Recent advances in fetal
magnetic resonance imaging have allowed us to characterize typical fetal brain growth
trajectories in vivo and to interrogate structural and functional alterations associated
with intrauterine exposures, such as maternal stress, environmental toxins, drugs,
and obesity. Here, we review proposed mechanisms for how prenatal influences disrupt
neurodevelopment, including the role played by maternal and fetal inflammatory responses.
We summarize insights from magnetic resonance imaging research in fetuses, highlight
recent discoveries in normative fetal development using quantitative magnetic resonance
imaging techniques (i.e., three-dimensional volumetry, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy,
placental diffusion imaging, and functional imaging), and discuss how baseline trajectories
are shaped by prenatal exposures.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: November 27, 2021
Accepted:
November 9,
2021
Received in revised form:
October 26,
2021
Received:
July 6,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Society of Biological Psychiatry.
