Infant Brain Development : Formation of the Mind and the Emergence of Consciousness

This book discusses the main milestones of early brain development and the emergence of consciousness, within and outside the mother’s environment, with a particular focus on the preterm infant. These insights offer new perspectives on issues concerning fetal pain, awareness in newborns, and the effects of current digital media on the developing infant brain. Among the topics covered: · Brain patterning, neural proliferation, and migration. · The stress of being born and first breaths. · The stream of consciousness. · Parenting and stimulating the brain of the child. · The moral status of the fetus and the infant. __Infant Brain Development__ is an excellent resource for researchers, clinicians and related professionals, and graduate students across a variety of disciplines including developmental psychology, pediatrics, neurobiology, neuroscience, obstetrics, nursing and medical ethics. It is written with historic and philosophical remarks of interest for a broad readership. --- “This book is a joy to read for anyone interested in understanding where biology is heading in the 21st century, and it is essential for those who work in child development.” Eric Kandel, University Professor, Columbia University, Co-Director, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Nobel Laureate in Medicine 2000 "With the precision of a scientist, the depth of a philosopher, and the heart and sensitivity of a pediatrician, Hugo Lagercrantz weaves a story as readable and engrossing as any mystery novel, linking brain, genes, the environment, and behavior to explain the development of the mind of a newborn. A __tour de force__!" Patricia K. Kuhl, The Bezos Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Learning, Co-Director, Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington “This book is a noble and valiant effort by Dr. Lagercrantz to explain the immensely complex issue of normal and pathological development of the human brain in simple terms that are accessible to the general public.” Pasko Rakic, Duberg Professor of Neuroscience and Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine Front Matter....Pages i-xi Origin of the Mind and Basic Construction of the Brain....Pages 1-14 Patterning of the Brain, Neural Proliferation, and Migration....Pages 15-30 Nerve Growth and Neurotransmission....Pages 31-42 Fetal Moving and Sensing....Pages 43-52 The Stress of Being Born and First Breaths....Pages 53-65 In Search of Consciousness....Pages 67-82 The Conscious Infant....Pages 83-98 Pain....Pages 99-106 Language and Music....Pages 107-115 Genes and Parents....Pages 117-126 Preterm Birth....Pages 127-141 Care for Consciousness....Pages 143-150 Back Matter....Pages 151-156