Executive functions after congenital and prenatal insults

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511977954.018

Chapter 15 - Executive functions after congenital and prenatal insults

from Section II - Executive Dysfunction in the Neurodevelopmental and Acquired Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2012

Jillian M. Schuh and

Scott J. Hunter

Edited by

Scott J. Hunter and

Elizabeth P. Sparrow

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Scott J. Hunter: Affiliation:
University of Chicago
Elizabeth P. Sparrow: Affiliation:
Sparrow Neuropsychology

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Summary

The pre- and perinatal period of development is an especially sensitive time during which stress and insults to the brain can set in place a series of influences on the developmental trajectory of EF. Issues such as prematurity, extremely low birthweight, anoxic/hypoxic and ischemic events, spina bifida/myelomeningocele, hydrocephalus, and prenatal exposure to toxins (see Chapter 14) all provide illustrations of the impact of early insults on the developing brain. With the advancement of medical science, more children with these issues are surviving than ever before. As a result, there is a need to better understand the specific cognitive profiles associated with these complications that often occur during periods of brain development that are critical for EF, particularly when the medical concerns are ongoing.

Prematurity and low birthweight

Extreme prematurity and low birthweight are associated with variability in the development of EF, and also put an infant at greater risk for other medical conditions, such as hemorrhaging, that further implicate the ontogeny of executive processes. Better prenatal care, along with the use of exogenous surfactant in the neonatal period, has allowed many children born extremely early to survive past infancy into childhood. Variations in gestational age and birthweight at the time of delivery create a spectrum of impact, resulting in effects on cognitive development that range from subtle to profound.

Type: Chapter
Information: Executive Function and Dysfunction
Identification, Assessment and Treatment
, pp. 191 - 197

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511977954.018 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2012

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