Abstract
Abstract Modern imaging methods enabled systematic studies of fetal behaviour as well as a continuation of that behaviour in prematurely born infants (for a review, see 1-4). The following question represents a great challenge for human developmental neurobiologist: what is the neurobiological basis of various behavioural patterns observed in human fetuses and preterm infants?2 First of all, it is essential to determine whether there is an early spontaneous (nonsensory- driven) activity and to what extent the cerebrum and the cerebral cortex may be involved. In addition, it is necessary to describe for each successive phase, the developmental status of neuronal circuitry and synaptic organization. In this review, we present evidence on the development of cortical connections during different phases of fetal development and evaluate a possible functional significance of cerebral involvement.
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