Phd in SENSORINEURAL PLASTICITY

Thesis title: Studio Sperimentale sulla Reazione Neonatale alla Nascita all’Ambiente Extrauterino, il Primo Contatto Interumano ed il Sonno nelle Prime 48 Ore di Vita

Despite major advances in developmental neuroscience and perinatal neuroimaging, the neurobiological processes underlying brain activation at birth remain poorly understood. In particular, the transition from the fetal to the neonatal state, triggered by the first breath and exposure to the extrauterine environment, has not yet been fully characterized. Recent functional MRI studies have demonstrated a sudden and massive surge in resting-state functional connectivity at birth, suggesting a strong relationship between neural activation and extrauterine sensory stimulation. Additional evidence from neonatal connectome research indicates a rapid postnatal increase in cortical gyrification, highlighting birth as a critical period of brain reorganization influenced by environmental change. The extrauterine environment represents a radical shift from the intrauterine condition, introducing intense sensory stimulation such as light, temperature variation, handling, and interpersonal contact. Although early physiological studies emphasized the stress-related hormonal response associated with birth, these findings have been largely neglected in contemporary models of early brain development. Moreover, fundamental neurobiological changes occurring around birth—such as the disappearance of the subplate and the functional switch of GABAergic signaling—suggest that this period may be particularly vulnerable and crucial for subsequent neurodevelopment. While neuroimaging has begun to explore these processes, behavioral research at the very moment of birth remains strikingly absent. Existing observational tools, such as General Movements assessment and neonatal behavioral scales, are typically applied days or weeks after delivery. No systematic studies have investigated neonatal behavior immediately at birth, including the newborn’s initial reaction to the environment, the first mother–infant interaction, and the onset of sleep. The present project aims to investigate neonatal neurobehavioral responses within the first 48 hours of life through an integrated observational approach. By characterizing behavioral patterns related to environmental reactivity, early interaction, and sleep, this study seeks to define early neurobehavioral phenotypes. Such phenotyping may provide a foundation for early identification of atypical developmental trajectories and open new perspectives for prevention and early intervention in neurodevelopmental, attachment, and sleep-related disorders.