Original ArticlesHuman Motor BehaviorPrenatal Origin and Early Postnatal DevelopmentChrista Einspieler, Peter B. Marschik, and Heinz F.R. PrechtlChrista Einspieler Institute of Physiology, Center for Physiological Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria Search for more papers by this author, Peter B. Marschik Institute of Physiology, Center for Physiological Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria Search for more papers by this author, and Heinz F.R. Prechtl Institute of Physiology, Center for Physiological Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:February 26, 2015https://doi.org/10.1027/0044-3409.216.3.147PDFView Full Text ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInReddit SectionsMoreAbstractThe spontaneous movements of the newborn infant have a long prenatal history. From 8 weeks postmenstrual age onward the fetus moves in distinct motor patterns. There is no period of amorphic and random movements. The patterns are easily recognizable, as all of them can be seen after birth. The human neonate demonstrates a continuum of motor patterns from prenatal to early postnatal life. Around the 3rd month a major transformation of motor and sensory patterns occurs. This makes the infant more fit to meet the requirements of the extra-uterine environment. The developmental course of spontaneous movements during the first 20 weeks postterm age shows the emergence and disappearance of various movement patterns. The so-called general movements deserve special interest as they are in their altered quality a most reliable indicator of brain (dys)function with a specific prediction of later developing cerebral palsy.References Atkinson, J. (1984). Human visual development over the first 6 months of life. A review and a hypothesis. Human Neurobiology, 3, 61–74. 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Marschik was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF P19581-B02).PDF download