Why do I study the fetal brain?
I am a computational neuroscientist who studies the brain functions of the fetus using functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI ). Just one year passed since I was first involved in a research project pertinent to pediatric neuroimaging. In spite of short-term experience, I have fallen in fervent love with the fetus. Indeed, it has extraordinary attraction compared to the adult brain. Its anatomy and functions evolve in every moment as it grows inside the mother’s womb. Imagine how dynamic the change in the fetal brain is. As lots of neurons are newly formed everyday, the fetus extends its interaction with external environment. It has been well known that some classical music can be used as the prenatal care, which means that the fetal brain responds to external sounds. The dynamic evolution of the fetal brain is so mysterious that it sometimes reminds me of the creative providence of the God. All the mysteries lead me to get hooked on the research of the fetal brain. Although my ...