Early Influences

List of Contributors

Preface

Dedication to Herbert G. Birch (1918-1973)

Section 1 Drugs, Radiation, Hormones

Introduction

Behavioral Teratology: Embryopathic and Behavioral Effects of Drugs during Pregnancy

I. Introduction

II. Drugs and Prenatal Development: Principles of Teratology and Behavioral Effects

III. Teratogenic Agents

IV. Toxic Nonteratogenic Drugs in Animals and Humans

V. Summary

References

Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Developing Brain and Behavior

I. Introduction

II. Radiosensitivity of Developing Cells and Malformative Processes

III. Behavioral Development in Rats following Prenatal Irradiation: The Search for Correlations between Altered Structure and Function

IV. Effects of Radiation on Infant Rats

V. Effects of Radiation on Humans

VI. Summary and Conclusions

References

Hormonal Influences on Brain and Behavioral Development

I. Introduction

II. Sexual Differentiation

III. Sexual Differentiation in Primates

IV. Sexual Differentiation in Birds

V. Conclusions

References

Hormonal Mediation of the Effects of Prenatal Stress on Offspring Behavior

I. Introduction

II. Hormonal Mediation: Background

III. Hormonal Mediation of Prenatal Stress Effects: Hypotheses

IV. Evidence

V. Implications and Conclusions

References

Section 2 Nutrition

Introduction

Nutritional Influences on Prenatal Brain Development

I. Introduction

II. Nutrients in Prenatal Brain Development

III. Regulatory Factors and Timing in Prenatal Brain Development

IV. Prenatal Malnutrition and Brain Development

V. "Supernutrition" and Optimal Brain Development

VI. Summary and Conclusions

References

Influence of Early Undernutrition on Behavioral Development and Learning in Rodents

I. Introduction

II. Undernutrition and Critical Periods during Growth

III. The Vulnerable Period Hypothesis

IV. Undernutrition and Physical Development of the Brain

V. Undernutrition and Behavioral Development

VI. Undernutrition and Later Behavior

VII. Conclusions

References

Section 3 Sensory Experience, Overload, Enrichment

Introduction

Effect of Early Sensory Experience on Brain and Behavioral Development

I. Introduction

II. Early Auditory Experience

III. Early Gustatory Experience

IV. Early Olfactory Experience

V. Early Tactile Experience

VI. Early Visual Experience

VII. General Discussion

VIII. Summary

References

Influences of Early Auditory Trauma on Auditory Development

I. Introduction

II. Normal Functional and Anatomical Development of the Auditory System

III. The Effects of Intense Sound on Hearing

IV. Overstimulation Damage in Children and Young Animals

V. Conclusions

References

Experiential Influences on Brain Anatomy and Brain Chemistry in Rodents

I. Introduction and Scope

II. Cerebral and Behavioral Effects Induced by Experience in Differential Environments

III. Mechanisms Hypothesized to Mediate Production of Cerebral Effects of Differential Experience

IV. Extensions of This Research and Related Investigations

V. Roles of Experience

VI. Conclusions

References

Section 4 Epilogue

Author Index

Subject Index

Contents of Previous Volumes