Ultrasound affects the developing brain

Ultrasound - a technology familiar to babies in the womb - seems to alter the development of nerve cells in the brain of rat embryos. American scientists suspect this effect also occurs with human fetuses.

Ultrasound is clinically useful for doctors and parents.But researchers warn of its abuse to play or out of curiosity.(Photo: iStockphoto)

Although mouse brains differ in size and structure from our brains, Pasko Rakic's research, a neuroscientist at Yale University, provides further evidence that too much ultrasound can be The impact on unborn babies.

"Based on this finding, we believe that ultrasound should not be used for non-medical processes," Rakic ​​said.

The team said that long-term fetal fetal ultrasound has interfered with a process called neuronal shift - in which neurons move from one place to another.

Rakic ​​and colleagues analyzed the transfer of outer cortical neurons together with 146 mice exposed to ultrasound during pregnancy similar to those used in humans. Ultrasound intensity is changed from high to low.

After exposure to ultrasound for several times and lasting 30 to 420 minutes, a small amount of neurons in mouse embryos did not migrate to the familiar location in the top layer of the cortex. Instead, they run to the deeper cortex or cling to the white matter in the brain.

"Projecting the logical movement of neurons in the development process is very important for the cortical perfection and its function," Dr. Rakic ​​said.

"If many brain cells are affected in this way, other studies show that abnormal growth may be related to epilepsy, cognitive disorders and language, not unlike what we sometimes do. when caught in babies with fetal alcohol poisoning syndrome, " Rakic ​​said.

Technically controversial

Pasko Rakic ​​Neurology Professor (photo: med.yale) Ultrasound is a technique that allows parents to see their unborn child and doctors discover a baby's disability before birth. However, some studies suggest that ultrasound may affect brain development, although not necessarily disadvantageous.

For example, a 1993 publication in the Lancet magazine found that ultrasound fetuses are more left-handed.
Another independent study found that babies who were ultrasound seemed to be lighter, while the third study suggested that babies would be slow to speak.

However, there are also studies that suggest that children who are prenatal scans perform better language tests than adults.

"We do not have any evidence of ourselves that ultrasound causes behavioral changes in mice or any effect on developing young brains," Rakic ​​said. "So I would like to emphasize that the study on mice does not mean the prohibition of fetal ultrasound in people serving medical diagnosis or other medical purposes."

" In contrast, ultrasound has been shown to be medically useful, " he added.

The team only recommends that doctors and pregnant women not overdo ultrasound because of curiosity or just want to have fun with them.

T. An