Hagit Friedman

By Hagit Friedman, Marina Soloveichick, Shai Barak, Omer Bar-Yosef, Saab Raunak and Smolkin Tatiana

Neurodevelopmental syndromes, a continuously growing issue, are impairments in the growth and development of the brain and CNS which are pronounced in a variety of emotional, cognitive, motor and social skills. Early assessment and detection of typical, clinically correlated early signs of developmental abnormalities is crucial for early and effective intervention, supporting initiation of early treatment and minimizing neurological and functional deficits. Successful early interventions would then direct to early time windows of higher neural plasticity. Various syndromes are reflected in early vocal and motor characteristics, making them suitable indicators of an infant’s neural development. Performance of the computerized classifiers we developed shows approximately 90% accuracy on a database of diagnosed babies. The results demonstrate the potential of vocal and motor analysis for computer-assisted early detection of neurodevelopmental insults.

Part of the book: Neuroplasticity

By Hagit Friedman, Marina Soloveichick, Amir Kushnir, Chava Kasher, Caroline Barmatz and Omer Bar-Yosef

Brain and nervous system development are experience dependent. Indeed, the sequence of development is laid out genetically, but early environmental events are major contributors to the system’s development and optimal functioning. Various fetal injuries and birth trauma make babies vulnerable to developmental problems: cerebral palsy, seizures, abnormal muscle tone, delayed developmental milestones, sensory integration, and more. Our goal in the study presented here was to improve the neurodevelopmental track of babies at risk using Infant Neural Aquatic. Parent and baby dyads who met initial criteria were recruited for a 5–6 months intervention period through an open invitation, followed by a conversation and signing informed consent. In the beginning and end of intervention period, participants completed questionnaires, and developmental features of the babies were assessed using analysis of neuro-motor and vocal characteristics. Significant neurodevelopmental delta between values at the end and beginning of intervention period, comparing intervention and control, is described, and the strength of INA specific intervention tool is analyzed.

Part of the book: Neurodevelopment and Neurodevelopmental Disorder

By Hagit Friedman

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the joint name for neurodevelopmental impairments characterized by abnormal social interaction, communication difficulties, limited range of activities and areas of interest, and typical motor impairments. There is a remarkable increase in the prevalence of ASD over the past 30 years. Studies indicate that genetic, neurological, and environmental factors are involved in the emergence of ASD, and recent works describe the neuromolecular mechanism implicated in the basis of ASD. 3LT has now developed into a therapeutic procedure that is used for three main goals: to reduce inflammation, edema, and chronic orthopedic disorders; to promote healing of wounds, deeper tissues, and nerves; and to treat neurological injuries and pain. 3LT may treat neurological injuries by lowering levels of inflammation proteins and by stimulation of mitochondria to increase the production of adenosine triphosphate and neural growth factors. This review aims to discuss the current evidence for the effects and mechanisms of 3LT at the cellular level and the effects of 3LT-induced changes in brain development and function. Early and effective intervention, through the developmental time window of high ASD susceptibility, using tools that are directed to the mechanism of pathology, may minimize neurological and functional deficits.

Part of the book: Learning Disabilities

By Hagit Friedman

Trauma can result from an event that is perceived as life-threatening or as having the potential of seriously harming oneself or others. Such experiences, often accompanied by intense fear, terror, and helplessness, can lead to the development of PTSS and PTSD. Response to trauma depends on trauma feature characteristics and specific personal factors. In clinical literature, PTSD is often accompanied by severe functional impairment and includes well-described symptoms. These create behavior that limits the person and causes functional damage over time. Moreover, PTSS in early age may lead to adverse structural and functional changes in the development of brain neural circuits. PTSD has been one of the most investigated themes in medicine, psychiatry, neurophysiology, and rehabilitation over the last years. HPA axis, neural inflammation, and the neural mitochondrial oxidative stress are involved in the molecular mechanism of PTSD, reducing neuroplasticity and synapse proliferation. Here, current data on PTSD causes and symptoms, and the mechanisms and functions of the mitochondrial stress response, are reviewed, leading to 3LT novel scientifically and clinically based therapeutic approach. 3LT tool, aimed to the neural molecular mechanism of PTSS, targets mitochondrial dysfunction for the prevention and correction of neural lesions associated with PTSD.

Part of the book: Neuropediatrics