A light in the darkness: Early phases of development and the emergence of cognition
During the prenatal period, the major brain development milestones are posed and calibrated through different mechanisms, among which endogenous activity, that prepares the ''system'' to face the external environment. However, the specific nature of the human nervous system, inte...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929325000222 |
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| author | Elisa Cainelli Giulia Stramucci Patrizia Bisiacchi |
| author_facet | Elisa Cainelli Giulia Stramucci Patrizia Bisiacchi |
| author_sort | Elisa Cainelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the prenatal period, the major brain development milestones are posed and calibrated through different mechanisms, among which endogenous activity, that prepares the ''system'' to face the external environment. However, the specific nature of the human nervous system, intended for brain plasticity that is varied by brain area and prolonged over time, requires much time for environmental experiences to shape the cerebral circuitries. Therefore, the neonate completely depends on the caregiver, and during the first months of postnatal life, it exhibits a transitory and limited repertoire of behaviors and skills that favors the mother in her new role. This transitory condition will gradually give way to more mature competencies, the milestones of which are posed within 2 years of age. This review takes a new perspective on early development and attempts to trace the remarkable changes from in-utero period to the second year of postnatal life, posing a bridge between the neurobiological substrate and behavioral development. We based our work on the ''normal'' development, pointing out the risks inherent in any development process. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-74fdca8949ca4d90bd7fd0bc713bacbd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1878-9293 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-74fdca8949ca4d90bd7fd0bc713bacbd2025-02-12T05:30:56ZengElsevierDevelopmental Cognitive Neuroscience1878-92932025-04-0172101527A light in the darkness: Early phases of development and the emergence of cognitionElisa Cainelli0Giulia Stramucci1Patrizia Bisiacchi2Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy; Correspondence to: Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia, 8, Padova 35133, Italy.Siena Brain Investigation & Neuromodulation Lab (Si-BIN Lab), Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Italy; School of Advanced Studies, Center of Neuroscience, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC, Italy; Siena Brain Investigation & Neuromodulation Lab (Si-BIN Lab), Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Camerino, MC, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, PNC, Padova 35131, ItalyDuring the prenatal period, the major brain development milestones are posed and calibrated through different mechanisms, among which endogenous activity, that prepares the ''system'' to face the external environment. However, the specific nature of the human nervous system, intended for brain plasticity that is varied by brain area and prolonged over time, requires much time for environmental experiences to shape the cerebral circuitries. Therefore, the neonate completely depends on the caregiver, and during the first months of postnatal life, it exhibits a transitory and limited repertoire of behaviors and skills that favors the mother in her new role. This transitory condition will gradually give way to more mature competencies, the milestones of which are posed within 2 years of age. This review takes a new perspective on early development and attempts to trace the remarkable changes from in-utero period to the second year of postnatal life, posing a bridge between the neurobiological substrate and behavioral development. We based our work on the ''normal'' development, pointing out the risks inherent in any development process.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929325000222InfancyNeurodevelopmentNeurobiologicalPsychomotorPrenatalPostnatal |
| spellingShingle | Elisa Cainelli Giulia Stramucci Patrizia Bisiacchi A light in the darkness: Early phases of development and the emergence of cognition Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Infancy Neurodevelopment Neurobiological Psychomotor Prenatal Postnatal |
| title | A light in the darkness: Early phases of development and the emergence of cognition |
| title_full | A light in the darkness: Early phases of development and the emergence of cognition |
| title_fullStr | A light in the darkness: Early phases of development and the emergence of cognition |
| title_full_unstemmed | A light in the darkness: Early phases of development and the emergence of cognition |
| title_short | A light in the darkness: Early phases of development and the emergence of cognition |
| title_sort | light in the darkness early phases of development and the emergence of cognition |
| topic | Infancy Neurodevelopment Neurobiological Psychomotor Prenatal Postnatal |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929325000222 |
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