Many parents think the school years matter most for neurological development, but a UVA expert says the biggest gains start much earlier.

Before age 5, a baby's brain grows rapidly, undergoing a uniquely important moment in development. Yet, many don't understand just how critical it is for setting a person's foundation for thriving.

A study in mice has found that the bacteria Bifidobacterium breve in the mother's gut during pregnancy supports healthy brain development in the fetus. A study in mice has found that the bacteria ...

Lab-grown “reductionist replicas” of the human brain are helping scientists understand fetal development and cognitive disorders, including autism. But ethical questions loom. Brain organoids, which ...

During pregnancy, as a mother’s body nurtures new life, her health shapes the baby’s development. Shifts in maternal health can trickle to the fetus, leaving lasting effects on the baby’s long-term ...

The maternal microbiome and immune system have both independent and synergistic effects on fetal brain health—changes in the mother's immune system have been linked to an increased risk of ...

Newborn finger proportions may reflect early hormone exposure and could be linked to differences in early brain growth.

Researchers mapped early brain growth from mid-pregnancy to the first month after birth and found signs that sex-linked differences emerge surprisingly early.

New research using live mouse-adapted influenza virus improves upon previous mouse experiments to explain how maternal infection impacts fetal brain development. The study also indicates fetal brain ...

By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD By seamlessly tracking brain growth from the womb into early life, researchers uncover when key brain regions surge and how subtle sex differences emerge before birth. Study: ...