Fetal assessment using biomagnetometry: Neurobehaviors, cardiac autonomic control, and research applications

Abstract

Fetal biomagnetometry offers an unprecedented opportunity to study the longitudinal development of the human fetus in a noninvasive manner. Magnetic fields emanating from the electrical currents of the fetal body pass through the maternal body with little distortion, making it possible to distinguish electrophysiologic activity of the heart, diaphragmatic movements associated with hiccup and breathing movements, and oromotor activity associated with nonnutritive suck and swallow. Our research interest is focused on developmental origins and in that regard, we have found fetal biomagnetometry to be superior when measuring the effects of interventions on the development of fetal neurobehaviors and cardiac autonomic control. In this chapter, we first describe our experience characterizing specific fetal neurobehaviors and their associated magnetic field properties along with the effect on cardiac autonomic control. Next, we describe our findings in two separate research studies. The first was designed to determine the impact of maternal physical activity during pregnancy on fetal and infant cardiac autonomic control. The second describes the results of a clinical trial that was designed to determine the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), supplemented to pregnant women during the last two trimesters of pregnancy, on fetal autonomic development. Finally, we discuss the need for a comprehensive analytical approach that takes into account the complex integration of physiologic systems in the developing fetus. We hope that this work serves as a foundation for future studies that will determine how the fetus adapts as an individual to the in utero environment.