Aerodigestive and communicative behaviors in anencephalic and hydranencephalic infants

Abstract

The aerodigestive and communicative behaviors of anencephalic and hydranencephalic patients are assessed from literature sources and are compared with documented neural structures present in the brainstem, subcortical, and cortical regions of the brain. Much of the data analyzed corroborate previous neurological studies, which focus on central pattern generators and development in model organisms. However, findings suggest that further research is necessary to determine which components of these systems support these behaviors. A low reporting rate of behavior in tandem with pathology is observed throughout the literature. More data pairing behavior and pathology is recommended, both in the interest of understanding the relationship between neural structures and functions, and to provide clinicians with more information about a patient's signs and symptoms. Potential clinical practices are recommended to increase documentation about patients within this population.

The widespread action observation/execution matching system for facial expression processing

“…One method for testing this hypothesis may be to investigate the facial mimicry ability of anencephalic patients. It has been reported that anencephalic infants, who generally develop neither the neocortex, limbic regions, nor cerebellum (Radford et al, 2019 ), show spontaneous facial expressions such as smiling and crying (Dickman et al, 2016 ; Melnick et al, 1987 ; Shewmon et al, 1999 ); this suggests that their facial nerve nucleus can catalyze the production of facial expressions. If these patients are capable of facial mimicry, the facial nerve nucleus would be the primary candidate responsible for matching between the observation/execution of facial expressions.…”