Development of functional somatosensory circuits in the human infant brain

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Our senses are essential for interpreting and interact with the world around us. The brain has specialised areas dedicated to decoding different stimuli and allowing us to distinguish between a light touch, a firm squeeze or a sharp needle. However, how the brain acquires these capabilities and when, during development, remains unclear. The brain of a newborn, especially if premature, is not merely a down-sized version of that of an adult, but has different structures and functions that can change week by week in an adaptable way. Some of these early changes are necessary for the maturation of the brain, while some, especially those caused in prematurity by stimuli that do not naturally occur in the womb, may be detrimental. I plan to explore the maturation of sensory functions in premature infants. In particular, I will study the developing human brain in order to understand how we normally learn to feel different sensations and, how this is affected by prematurity and subsequent experience in intensive care. The results will contribute to fundamental knowledge of the developing human brain and help to establish methods of ensuring healthy brain maturation in premature infants.