Newborn Brain Connectivity Surges at Birth, Scans Show

A groundbreaking study using brain scans of 140 individuals has revealed a significant surge in neural connectivity in newborns, marking a transformative stage distinct from prenatal brain growth. Conducted by researchers at New York University, the study highlights how birth triggers the formation of billions of new neural connections as the brain processes new sensory information. This growth is particularly notable in subcortical regions and parts of the frontal lobe, supporting the idea that the brain's local networks in the womb expand to global communication post-birth. The findings, published in PLOS Biology, lay the groundwork for future research on brain development during the perinatal period.