Search results for ""Author Christa Einspieler""

Book SynopsisClinics in Developmental Medicine No. 189 Fetal behaviour and movements not only give an insight into the developing brain, as an expression of neural activity, but are also necessary for the further development of neural structure and of other organs. This book presents an account of our current understanding of fetal behaviour as obtained through the assessment of fetal movements and behavioural states. The approach is based on the premises of developmental neurology, and provides important clues for the recognition of the age-specific functional repertoire of the nervous system. The companion DVD contains 26 movies using both ultrasound and dynamic MRI to illustrate the text. After presenting the historical background, the authors describe in detail the patterns of fetal movements and the mechanisms underlying them: They then discuss determinants of fetal behaviour, explaining the impact of different pregnancy-related and maternal factors on behaviour. Other chapters describe important aspects such as fetal responsiveness, laterality and development of handedness, and the behaviour of twins. The final chapter reviews research on the effects of various neurological conditions on fetal behaviour. The ability to assess the functional condition of the nervous system is invaluable to the clinician, as a considerable percentage of early brain damage is of prenatal origin. The structured and standardized description of fetal behavioural patterns proposed in this book improves our ability to understand the mechanisms underlying various aspects of behaviour in healthy fetuses and in those with brain lesions or other risk factors. Because of this, the volume will be of great interest not only to researchers in this field but also to all of those working in neonatology, paediatrics and paediatric neurology. Readership: Researchers in this field, neonatologists, paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, neurophysiologists, neuroscientists, obstetriciansTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Observation of fetal behaviour. 2. Spontaneous motor behaviour. 3. Prenatal laterality. 4. Behavioural states. 5. Fetal responsiveness. 6. Fetal behaviour in twins. 7. Determinants of fetal behaviour. 8. Functional assessment of the nervous system and its relevance to clinical syndromes. Epilogue.

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Book SynopsisA quick, non-invasive, non-intrusive and cost-effective method with high reliability and high validity is much in demand for the early detection of neurological anomalies which point to cerebral palsy and developmental deficits later on in life. Over his years as a distinguished developmental neurologist, Heinz Prechtl has devised such a method; a qualitative assessment of general movements (GMs) as a specific predictor for neurological impairments. His method is described in this book. GMs form part of a distinct pattern of movements in preterm babies, term newborns and young infants. They are complex, frequent, and usually of sufficient length. Changes in the normal quality of GMs are a reliable indicator of brain dysfunction. Includes a CD-ROM giving 15 cases selected from the book. Each is of about one minute in duration and demonstrates the different age-specific movement patterns.Table of ContentsAuthors' appointments; Introduction: how it all came about; 1. Basic concepts of developmental neurology; 2. What are spontaneous movements?; 3. How to record and assess general movements?; 4. What could interfere with the quality of movements?; 5. How objective, reliable and valid is the general movement assessment?; 6. The clinical application of the method; 7. Quantitative assessment is an insensitive indicator of an impaired integrity of the nervous system; 8. Brain ultrasound and general movement assessment; 9. Neurological examination and general movement assessment; 10. What other methods of general movement exist?; Epilogue; References; Index.

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