Critically evaluate the evidence suggesting that stress during pregnancy can affect brain development of the foetus [BIO]
Introduction
According to Samir Dalal and Noura, (2018), the gestational environment influences the fetal development, structure and functioning and establishes the foundation for all the future development of the brain. It increases the long-term susceptibility to the neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, this can occur independently or in linkage with the postnatal or the genetic factors. On the other hand, scientists explain that exposure to the maternal stress results to harmful effects on the fetus, as determined by the timing, cause, duration and the intensity of the pressure. This is because the development of the brain entails cascade of interactions with the environment. Thus, small deviations from the typical developmental trajectory during the life of a fetus becomes magnified over a while. Hence, it produces long-term or permanent consequences of the life of the fetus. On the other hand, the immature blood-brain barrier of the fetus exhibits limited protection against neurological insults. As a result, the plasticity of the brain during the gestation period results to both the environmental exposure vulnerability and therapeutic intervention opportunities. A healthy and a well-nourished mother is critical but not practical for the healthy development of the fetus. Biological processes linked to stress can influence how nerves survive, grow, communicate with one another and differentiate. In other words, they affect the availability of the protective neutrophil factors of growth, development of synapse, the levels of the neurotransmitter chemical signals and also the production of the adult neuron. However, the role played by stress is not very clear. Studies have elaborated that the impacts of the maternal stress are determined by its cause, duration, timing, and the level of the stress together with the reactivity of the maternal stress and the fetus genetic susceptibility (Ayers and Ford, 2016). Thus, this study evaluates the evidence suggesting that stress during pregnancy can affect brain development of the fetus.