Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson Pondering Childhood Adversity with Charles Nelson III
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Jun 2, 2022 
In a captivating discussion, Professor Charles Nelson III, a pediatric and neuroscience expert at Harvard, delves into the intricacies of brain development and the impact of early adversities. He shares insights from his research on childhood neglect and trauma, revealing how they can lead to lifelong health issues. With studies spanning Romania, Bangladesh, and Hungary, he highlights the critical timing of interventions and the effects of prenatal factors on brain growth. Nelson also explores links between executive function and language development, unraveling the complex fabric of childhood adversity.
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Origins Of Face-Perception Research
- Charles Nelson traced interest in face perception from summer camp observations to infant EEG studies to understand developmental trajectories.
- He found wide individual variation: face-reading ability varies across typical and autistic populations.
Early EEG Signals Linked To Autism Risk
- Nelson's high-risk infant EEG work shows patterns by three months that strongly associate with later autism outcomes.
- These early patterns suggest prenatal origins but causal timing remains hard to prove.
Maternal Inflammation Affects Fetal Brain
- Maternal obesity or diabetes likely raises fetal risk via maternal immune/inflammatory responses affecting the placenta.
- Nelson studies prenatal COVID exposure as another example where maternal inflammation may impact fetal brain.