Let's Talk About Fetal Development

Let's Talk About Fetal Development

From Let's Talk About Women by Franziska Weinmar

November 20, 2025 · 48 min · Episode 28

About this episode

This episode explores fetal brain development and the impact of maternal health on it with Prof. Hubert Preissl.

What if we could peek into the developing brain before birth? In this episode we welcome Prof. Hubert Preissl, head of the research group Metabolic Neuroimaging at the University of Tübingen, who talks about the fascinating science of fetal brain development. Using fetal magnetoencephalography (fMEG) - with one of two systems worldwide right in Tübingen - researchers can measure fetal brain activity and uncover how a mother’s metabolic health and stress influence fetal development. Besides talking about early recordings of sex differences in brain development, we consider clinical implications and how insights into fetal brain activity may transform our understanding of mental health across the lifespan. From the origins of brain function to lifelong (mental) health, this conversation will change how you think about the very beginning of life. If you would like to get in touch with Hubert, you can find him here: https://preissl-lab.net/de/people/prof-dr-hubert-preissl/ ... or reach him at: hubert.preissl@uni-tuebingen.de Timestamps: 00:26: Introduction of our guest Prof. Hubert Preissl and his field of research 01:49: When does the fetal brain start to develop? 02:37…

People in this episode

Host: Franziska Weinmar

Guest: Prof. Hubert Preissl

Topics covered

  • fetal brain development
  • fetal magnetoencephalography
  • maternal health
  • mental health
  • neuroimaging

Keywords

  • fetal development
  • brain activity
  • maternal metabolic health
  • stress
  • neuroimaging

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Tübingen, Metabolic Neuroimaging

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