New study reveals how genes and food availability shape brain development in the womb.

A recent study provides new insights into how maternal and fetal genes contribute to the growth of a baby’s cerebral cortex, the brain’s outer layer responsible for many of its higher functions. Published in Nature Communications, the research not only underscores the genetic variants linked to higher birth weight and an enlarged cerebral cortex but also highlights the influence of environmental factors, such as food availability, on these genetic interactions.