Fetal Physiology

We recognize that in many developmental disorders the structure, or form, of the brain and other tissues can appear normal, while functioning is not. Children who develop these disorders can appear physically normal at birth and throughout life, while suffering from minor to severe functional impairments. Some of these children may have a formal diagnosis, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism, while others with lesser symptoms may not. This suggests that there are factors during fetal development that can influence later human functioning that do not affect human appearance or form. It is believed that these factors are environmental exposures in the pregnancy environment, which can occur in a variety of ways.