ABSTRACT
In humans, about 60% of all genes are dedicated to brain development, and during the prenatal period, the basic structures of the brain and neuronal network form. According to H. J. M. Corn and D. L. Bishop, human brain development begins with "only a few undifferentiated cells" but these cells "set the stage for the construction of the nervous system that continues throughout embryonic, fetal, and postnatal life". Prenatal influences on brain development include genetic factors and environmental factors. Although most prenatal research has focused on negative impacts of poor fetal environments, research on some aspects of the prenatal environment show that some positive learning may occur prenatally. In spite of evidence that the prenatal environment is vitally important for good brain development, there are children born every day throughout the world who do not have an optimum start in life because of poor prenatal conditions.
