Final published version
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Fetal Eye Movements in Response to a Visual Stimulus
AU - Donovan, Tim
AU - Dunn, Kirsty
AU - Penman, Amy
AU - Young, Robert
AU - Reid, Vincent
PY - 2020/8/1
Y1 - 2020/8/1
N2 - IntroductionIn 2D ultrasound the lens of the fetal eye can be distinguished as white circles within the hypoechoic eyeball, and eye movements can be visualised from about 15 weeks’ gestation. It has been shown that from 31 weeks gestational age the fetal sensory system is capable of directed vision if enough light is available. MethodsWe have developed a light source for delivering visual stimuli to be seen by the fetal eye, using laser dot diodes emitting at 650 nm. The 2D component of 94 fetal ultrasound scans (mean gestational age 240 days), where the light stimulus was presented, was coded to determine whether the eyes moved in response to the stimuli independent of any head movement. ResultsThe light stimulus significantly provoked head and eye movements, but after the light was withdrawn the head stopped moving, yet the eyes continued to move. ConclusionThis provides evidence for visual attention mechanisms that can be controlled through eye movements that are independent of head movements prior to birth.
AB - IntroductionIn 2D ultrasound the lens of the fetal eye can be distinguished as white circles within the hypoechoic eyeball, and eye movements can be visualised from about 15 weeks’ gestation. It has been shown that from 31 weeks gestational age the fetal sensory system is capable of directed vision if enough light is available. MethodsWe have developed a light source for delivering visual stimuli to be seen by the fetal eye, using laser dot diodes emitting at 650 nm. The 2D component of 94 fetal ultrasound scans (mean gestational age 240 days), where the light stimulus was presented, was coded to determine whether the eyes moved in response to the stimuli independent of any head movement. ResultsThe light stimulus significantly provoked head and eye movements, but after the light was withdrawn the head stopped moving, yet the eyes continued to move. ConclusionThis provides evidence for visual attention mechanisms that can be controlled through eye movements that are independent of head movements prior to birth.
KW - Fetus
KW - Prenatal
KW - Ultrasound
KW - Eye Movements
KW - Fetal Behaviour
U2 - 10.1002/brb3.1676
DO - 10.1002/brb3.1676
M3 - Journal article
VL - 10
JO - Brain and Behavior
JF - Brain and Behavior
SN - 2162-3279
IS - 8
M1 - e01676
ER -