Maternal Determinants of Neurodiversity in the Developing Brain: An Integrative Review of Biological, Environmental, and Psychological Factors

Neurodevelopmental delay is a major concern for obstetricians, neonatologists, and pediatricians all over the world.However, more recently, a view is emerging that we need to be cognizant of neurodiversity, a natural variation in cognitive and behavioral traits observed across individuals.Many differences in the human brain originate in the earliest developmental periods, when maternal biological signals and environmental conditions shape the fetal neural architecture.These temporal windows prior to conception, during embryogenesis, and fetal development are marked by significant plasticity and possibly shape lifelong neurodevelopment.The structural and functional changes can be affected by maternal metabolic, endocrine, immune, and psychosocial states, which act through the placenta to influence neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and the assembly of large-scale networks.Differences in thinking, learning, attention, and behavior are a normal part of human diversity.Hence, conditions such as autism, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dyslexia might not be true deficits but alternative ways of experiencing and interacting with the outside world.The acceptance of these special needs as neurodiversity, not neurological deficits, promotes acceptance, inclusion, and support, and encourages societies, schools, and workplaces to value diverse cognitive strengths while providing appropriate accommodations for individual needs.