| Abstract: | Reviews neuropathology studies in recent years that have defined basic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of fetal-neonatal brain damage contributing to sequelant, syndromic cerebral dysfunctions. These investigations identified hypoxic processes as the main cause of perinatal cerebral damage. The acute cerebral lesions present at birth, with transition to chronic scar lesions, were correlated organically with chronic functional sequels, with elements of the syndromic tetralogy of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and related psychopathy, and with patterns of minimal brain dysfunction. The gestational age at the time of the hypoxic exposure and the severity of the hypoxia appear to determine the location and the extent of the damage in the cerebrum and, correspondingly, influence the pattern and severity of the sequelant cerebral dysfunctions. (100 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
