Cephalisation index

Neurodevelopment and brain maturity have been evaluated in newborns using the cephalisation index.¹⁴ This screening method utilises a ratio of head circumference to birth weight to predict possible brain vulnerability.¹⁴ This index has proven to be one of the most effective perinatal predictive parameters of abnormal neurodevelopment in cases of intrauterine growth restriction.¹⁵ Previous studies investigating neurodevelopment have concluded that a higher cephalisation index is associated with a greater risk for brain abnormality.¹⁴ A ratio of 0 indicates a healthy, normal-term, infant of 38 – 40 weeks of gestation, whereas negative values represent a prenatal stage of development, and positive values represent a postnatal stage of development.¹⁴