ABSTRACT
The fact that the fetus exhibits behavior and responds to external stimuli means that its nervous system is, to some extent, functioning. Thus observations of the behavior of the fetus can be used to inform regarding the development, functioning, and integrity of the developing individual’s neural system. This chapter considers how examination of the behavior of the fetus can be used to elucidate certain aspects of neural system development and, moreover, can be used to indicate the presence and severity of abnormalities in the fetus’s nervous system.
