Background: In recent years, there has been growing interest in the effect of\nmaternal exposure to physiological, environmental, and also psychological\nfactors during gestation on child development. Several independent studies\nlink maternal stress during pregnancy to emotional and behavioral problems\nin the child. Objectives: This study aimed to observe the effect of maternal\ncognitive activity on fetal brain blood flow to determine whether systematic\nmaternal mathematical activity during pregnancy might influence child brain\ndevelopment. Method: Thirty-five women in the 28th to 40th week of pregnancy\nengaged in mathematical activities. Fetal middle cerebral artery\n(MCA), pulsatility index (PI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) were monitored\nbefore, during, and after the activity. Results: Brain activity and blood\nflow were shown to be intimately linked. We observed a significant decrease\nin fetal brain MCA resistance, as evidenced by decreased MCA PI, towards\nthe end of the mathematical activity. This may result in increased blood flow\nin the arteries supplying most brain regions and, possibly, increased brain activity.\nConclusions: A correlation between the motherâ??s engagement in mathematical\nactivities and fetal brain blood flow may lead to enhancement of\nthe fetusâ??s brain function and a cognitive advantage for the child.
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