Prenatal Development of Postnatal Functions

Brian Hopkins is Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lancaster University. He was previously Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences.Scott P. Johnson is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at New York University. He has held previous posts at Lancaster University, Texas A&M University and Cornell University.

[R]eports on recent research on the connections between developments in prenatal structures and functions and postnatal developmental psychology. Topics addressed by the seven contributions include views of prenatal corticogenesis as informed by studies of gene expression and the manipulation of sensory experience, prenatal sensory experience and learning with the context of auditory modality, the acquisition of olfactory and gustatory prenatal preferences and their effects on behavior after birth, the idea that prenatal motor development is dependent on central pattern generators and proprioceptive feedback resulting from movement, prenatal to postnatal development of posture, and the effect of maternal stress and anxiety during pregnancy on postnatal development outcomes.

• Introduction by Brian Hopkins and Scott P. JohnsonPre- and Postnatal Sensory Experience Shapes Functional Architecture in the Brain by Sarah L. PallasAre We Expecting too Much from Prenatal Sensory Experience? by Jean-Pierre Lecanuet, Carolyn Granier-Deferre, and Anthony DeCasperFrom Amion to Colostrum to Milk: Odor Bridging in Early Developmental Transitions by Benoist SchaalPrenatal Preparation for Early Postnatal Olfactory Learning by Richard H. Porter, Jan Winberg, and Heili VarendiLearning to Move before Birth by Scott R. Robinson and Gale A. KlevenFetal Movements and Postures: What Do They Mean for Postnatal Development? by J. I. P. de Vries and Brian HopkinsEffects of Antenatal Maternal Stress or Anxiety: From Fetus to Child by Vivette Glover and Thomas G. O'Connor