Brain architecture responds to environment beginning prenatally. At birth, naturally occurring biological changes in the mother promote her ability to self-regulate, stay emotionally engaged with her newborn and experience pleasure in the care of her baby. This presentation will provide an introduction to the neuroscience of brain development in the developing fetus and the reward circuit that facilitates attachment in the mother’s brain.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Name one mechanism of the reward circuit that promotes attachment.
- Name one function of the placenta that controls the environment of the developing fetus.