| Alcohol delays the emergence of the fetal elicited startle response, but only transiently. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22691707 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Prenatal exposure to alcohol may exert a significant detrimental effect on the functioning of the individual's brain, however few studies have examined this before birth. This longitudinal study examined the effect of maternal alcohol consumption on the elicited startle response of the fetus. Two groups of fetuses were examined: one whose mothers drank alcohol (approximately 10 units per week); the other whose mothers did not drink alcohol. Fetuses were examined at 29, 32 and 35 weeks gestation and their startle response observed using ultrasound in response to 2 presentations of a pink noise (70-250Hz) at 90dB(A) separated by 30s. Fetuses exposed to alcohol exhibited a weaker startle response at 29 weeks gestation than did fetuses not exposed to alcohol. There was no difference in the response at 32 and 35 weeks gestation. To ensure that the effects were not due to a more general effect of alcohol on fetal movement, a second experiment compared the spontaneous movements (observed on ultrasound for 45 min) of fetuses whose mothers drank alcohol and fetuses of mothers who didn't drink alcohol. There were no differences in movements exhibited by the fetuses. The results suggest that exposure to alcohol delays the emergence of the elicited startle response at 29 weeks gestation but this delay has disappeared by 32 weeks gestation. The possible role of altered neural development, acute exposure to alcohol and disruptions to the fetus's behavioural repertoire, in mediating these effects are discussed. |
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Authors:
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Peter G Hepper; James C Dornan; Catherine Lynch; Jennifer F Maguire |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2012-06-09 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Physiology & behavior Volume: 107 ISSN: 1873-507X ISO Abbreviation: Physiol. Behav. Publication Date: 2012 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-07-31 Completed Date: 2013-01-07 Revised Date: 2013-04-16 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0151504 Medline TA: Physiol Behav Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 76-81 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
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Fetal Behaviour Research Centre, School of Psychology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, BT7 INN, UK. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Acoustic Stimulation
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adverse effects Age Factors Alcohol Drinking / physiopathology Animals Animals, Newborn Central Nervous System Depressants / pharmacology* Ethanol / pharmacology* Female Fetal Movement / drug effects Fetus / drug effects*, physiology Gestational Age Longitudinal Studies Male Mice Pregnancy Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / chemically induced, physiopathology* Reproducibility of Results Startle Reaction / drug effects* Time Factors |
| Grant Support | |
ID/Acronym/Agency:
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5 U24 AA014828/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS; U24 AA014828/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS; //Wellcome Trust |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Central Nervous System Depressants; 64-17-5/Ethanol |
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