fetal eye movement

There is an apparent continuity in human neural development that can be traced to venerable themes of vertebrate morphogenesis that have shaped the evolution of the reptilian telencephalon (including both primitive three-layered cortex and basal ganglia) and then the subsequent evolution of the mammalian six-layered neocortex. In this theoretical analysis, we propose that an evolutionary-developmental analysis of these general morphogenetic themes can help to explain the embryonic development of the dual divisions of the limbic system that control the dorsal and ventral networks of the human neocortex...

We present a method for classifying human skill at fetal ultrasound scanning from eye-tracking and pupillary data of sonographers. Human skill characterization for this clinical task typically creates groupings of clinician skills such as expert and beginner based on the number of years of professional experience; experts typically have more than 10 years and beginners between 0-5 years. In some cases, they also include trainees who are not yet fully-qualified professionals. Prior work has considered eye movements that necessitates separating eye-tracking data into eye movements, such as fixations and saccades...

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Dysregulated sleep is commonly reported in individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD). Physiology and pathogenesis of these disorders points to aberrant metabolism, during neurodevelopment and adulthood, of tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway (KP). Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a neuroactive KP metabolite derived from its precursor kynurenine by kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT II), is increased in the brains of individuals with SCZ and BPD. We hypothesize that elevated KYNA, an inhibitor of glutamatergic and cholinergic neurotransmission, contributes to sleep dysfunction...

We present a method for skill characterisation of sonographer gaze patterns while performing routine second trimester fetal anatomy ultrasound scans. The position and scale of fetal anatomical planes during each scan differ because of fetal position, movements and sonographer skill. A standardised reference is required to compare recorded eye-tracking data for skill characterisation. We propose using an affine transformer network to localise the anatomy circumference in video frames, for normalisation of eye-tracking data...

PURPOSE: To describe a case of Bilateral Morning Glory Syndrome (MGS) associated with Unilateral Persistent Fetal Vasculature (PFV) in a 3-day old neonate. OBSERVATIONS: A 3-day-old neonate was found bilateral retinal abnormalities due to neonatal eye screening. Dilated fundus exam showed bilateral optic disc dysplasia with the persistent hyaloid vessels in right eye at first. With the progress of the disease, optic disc was enlarged with central umbilication which with a similar anomalous radiating peripapillary vascular appearance, the persistent hyaloid vessels in vitreous cavity of right eye gradually disappear, a large amount of exudation can be seen in the posterior pole retina with macular movement in both eyes...

OBJECTIVES: Fetal motor assessment (FMA) in addition to structural anomaly scan enhances prenatal detection of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC). In the Amsterdam UMC, sonographers are trained to perform FMA. We examined the effect of motor assessment training by comparing sonographers with (SMA) and without this training (S) on their qualitative motor assessment in fetuses with normal (FNM) and abnormal motility (FAM) and their visual processing by eye-tracking. METHODS: The study was performed from 2019 to 2020...

Visualising patterns in clinicians' eye movements while interpreting fetal ultrasound imaging videos is challenging. Across and within videos, there are differences in size an d position of Areas-of-Interest (AOIs) due to fetal position, movement and sonographer skill. Currently, AOIs are manually labelled or identified using eye-tracker manufacturer specifications which are not study specific. We propose using unsupervised clustering to identify meaningful AOIs and bi-contour plots to visualise spatio-temporal gaze characteristics...

Eye movement density (EMD) is an evaluation index of rapid eye movements observed during sleep. This study aimed to investigate the association of fetal EMD with sleeping and developmental problems in infancy. We observed 60 normal singleton pregnancies (gestational age 28-37 weeks) using ultrasonography for 1 h. Fetal eye movements were counted, and EMD was calculated. Participants answered questionnaires regarding their child's sleep and development 1.5 years after their delivery. The outcomes of an infant's sleep were night awakening (yes or no), bedtime (before or after 22:00), and nighttime sleep duration (< 9 or ≥ 9 h)...

There is no consensus on the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during pregnancy, and therapists' views on the matter are largely unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore therapist beliefs and experiences regarding PTSD treatment during pregnancy. Participants were therapists (N = 301) with experience treating PTSD who completed an online survey. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of therapists who were experienced in treating PTSD symptoms during pregnancy; secondary outcome measures assessed preferred treatments for the general and pregnant populations, perceived reluctance to treat PTSD in pregnancy, and perceived effects and adverse events attributed to treatment for pregnant women and fetuses...

We present a method for classifying tasks in fetal ultrasound scans using the eye-tracking data of sonographers. The visual attention of a sonographer captured by eye-tracking data over time is defined by a scanpath. In routine fetal ultrasound, the captured standard imaging planes are visually inconsistent due to fetal position, movements, and sonographer scanning experience. To address this challenge, we propose a scale and position invariant task classification method using normalised visual scanpaths. We describe a normalisation method that uses bounding boxes to provide the gaze with a reference to the position and scale of the imaging plane and use the normalised scanpath sequences to train machine learning models for discriminating between ultrasound tasks...

BACKGROUND: Gene-environment interactions are likely to underlie most human birth defects. The most common known environmental contributor to birth defects is prenatal alcohol exposure. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) describe the full range of defects that result from prenatal alcohol exposure. Gene-ethanol interactions underlie susceptibility to FASD, but we lack a mechanistic understanding of these interactions. Here, we leverage the genetic tractability of zebrafish to address this problem...

In this article, we present a review of ocular conditions related to alcohol consumption. A search of the literature published from 1952 to March 2020 was performed. The titles and abstracts were screened and the eligible studies were selected. PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge database, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched. We categorized the relationship between alcohol intake and ocular conditions by the type of ocular exposure to alcohol. Accordingly, ocular findings following acute alcohol intoxication, optic neuropathy following methanol toxicity, congenital conditions related to maternal alcohol consumption, and ocular disease related to chronic alcoholism are discussed...

KEY POINTS: Brief episodes of severe fetal hypoxia can arise in late gestation as a result of interruption of normal umbilical blood flow Systemic parameters and blood chemistry indicate complete recovery within 1-2 hours, although the long-term effects on fetal brain functions are unknown Fetal sheep were subjected to umbilical cord occlusion (UCO) for 10 min at 131 days of gestation, and then monitored intensively until onset of labour or delivery (<145 days of gestation) Normal patterns of fetal behaviour, including breathing movements, episodes of high and low voltage electorcortical activity, eye movements and postural (neck) muscle activity, were disrupted for 3-10 days after the UCO Preterm labour and delivery occurred in a significant number of the pregnancies after UCO compared to the control (sham-UCO) cohort...

The study of the onset and ontogeny of human behaviour has made it clear that a multitude of fetal movement patterns are spontaneously generated, and that there is a close association between activity and the development of peripheral and central structures. The embryo starts moving by 7.5 week's gestation; 2 to 3 weeks later, a number of movement patterns including general movements, isolated limb and head movements, hiccup, and breathing movements, appear. Some movements (e.g. yawning, smiling, 'pointing'; we show these in eight videos in this review) precede life-long patterns; others have intrauterine functions, such as sucking/swallowing for amniotic fluid regulation, breathing movements for lung development, or eye movements for retinal cell diversity...

In most societies, devices evolved to enhance the mother's working capacity. This article depicts the cradle's development in some countries and delineates the scientific debate that led to its demise in the 19th century. A few basic forms of infant cots survived the centuries from antiquity: the carrying board, trough, hammock, sling, transverse rockers, and forward rockers. Romans discerned 2 types: the cuna stood on the floor and was moveable by wooden rockers. Lecti pensiles were suspended beds. Cradleboards of Native Americans revealed remarkable variety of shapes and decorations...

Birth timing is a key life-history characteristic that influences fitness and population performance. For migratory animals, however, appropriately timing birth on one seasonal range may be constrained by events occurring during other parts of the migratory cycle. We investigated how the use of capital and income resources may facilitate flexibility in reproductive phenology of migratory mule deer in western Wyoming, USA, over a 5-yr period (2015-2019). Specifically, we examined how seasonal interactions affected three interrelated life-history characteristics: fetal development, birth mass, and birth timing...

INTRODUCTION: The question of whether the human fetus experiences pain has received substantial attention in recent times. With the advent of high-definition 4-dimensional ultrasound (4D-US), it is possible to record fetal body and facial expressions. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether human fetuses demonstrate discriminative acute behavioral responses to nociceptive input. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 5 fetuses with diaphragmatic hernia with indication of intrauterine surgery (fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion) and 8 healthy fetuses, who were scanned with 4D-US in 1 of 3 conditions: (1) acute pain group: Fetuses undergoing intrauterine surgery were assessed in the preoperative period during the anesthetic injection into the thigh; (2) control group at rest: Facial expressions at rest were recorded during scheduled ultrasound examinations; and (3) control group acoustic startle: Fetal facial expressions were recorded during acoustic stimulus (500-4000 Hz; 60-115 dB)...

A teenage primigravida at 13 weeks of gestation presented with hyperemesis gravidarum of 45 days and a history of giddiness and inability to walk due to involuntary movements of limbs and eyes since 2 days. She was treated with intravenous fluids, thiamine and antiemetics. MRI brain showed hyperintensities in bilateral dorsomedial thalami, periaqueductal grey matter in T2-weighted and FLAIR images. A diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy was made and she was managed in intensive care unit and received injection thiamine as per the guidelines and her weakness and ataxia improved over 3 weeks and she was discharged at 17 weeks of pregnancy in good state of health...

BACKGROUND Pediatric intraabdominal pancreatic teratomas have been rarely reported. This is the first case of severe hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in a 6-month-old infant secondary to an intraabdominal teratoma. The hypoglycemia resolved after surgical removal. CASE REPORT A 6-month-old infant was seen in a pediatric emergency department with complaints of lethargy and abnormal eye movements. She was diagnosed with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia and started on diazoxide. A CT and MRI of the abdomen revealed a 165×77×72 mm cyst with a 51×45×30 mm solid structure connecting to the wall of the cyst by a stalk, raising suspicion of a fetus in fetu...