Kathleen M. Gustafson, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology
Director, Fetal Biomagnetometry Laboratory
Hoglund Brain Imaging Center

Ph.D., Eurotechnical Research University, Hilo, Hawaii, 1994

kgustafson@kumc.edu

Since the 1980's, there has been increasing recognition that events that occur in utero have long-term implications for future health. Maternal nutrition, physical activity, psychological stress and social disparities have the potential to put the fetus at risk or "program" the offspring for obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Our research is focused on the developmental origins of health and disease. To accomplish these studies, we use a dedicated fetal biomagnetometer to measure naturally occurring magnetic fields that surround bioelectric currents in the maternal and fetal bodies. There are only two dedicated fetal biomagnetometers in the United States. This device is housed at the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center on the Kansas University Medical Center campus. It allows for completely safe, non-invasive studies of women during their pregnancy.

Of principle importance to our research is the magnetocardiogram (MCG), recorded simultaneously from mother and child. Using the MCG, we are able to determine fetal behavioral states and fetal movements including non-nutritive sucking and swallowing, hiccups and periodic fetal breathing. During these unique fetal activities, we have shown how the fetus regulates its heart rate and heart rate variability and how these activities differ when women exercise during pregnancy or take an omega-3 supplement. We now know that when women exercise during pregnancy, their fetus has greater ability to vary its heart rate which may give it an adaptive advantage. Development and maturation of fetal cardiac autonomic control not only gives us insight into cardiac regulation, but also brain development. The autonomic nervous system, in particular vagal regulation, has also been linked to basic cognitive components related to arousal and attention. We believe we have a unique opportunity to make significant contributions to the field of developmental origins.

Selected Publications

May, L.E., Suminski, R.R., Yeh, H-W., Gustafson, K.M. (2011) Maternal physical activity dose and infant heart adaptations. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. (in press).

Gustafson, K. M., May, L. E., Yeh, H-W., Million, S. K., Allen, J. J. B., (2012) The influence of maternal exercise on fetal cardiac autonomic control during breathing movements. Early Human Development 12.017.

May, L.E., Suminski, R., Yeh, H-W., Langaker, M., Gustafson, K.M. (2012) Regular maternal exercise dose and fetal heart outcome. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 44:1252-8.

Colombo, J., Carlson, S.E., Cheatham, C.L., Fitzgerald-Gustafson, K.M., Kepler, A., Schmeidler, T. (2011) LCPUFA supplementation in infancy reduces heart rate and positively affects distribution of attention. Pediatric Research. 70; 406-410.

Gustafson, K.M., May, L.E., Yeh, H-W., Allen, J. J. B. (2011) Characterization of the fetal diaphragmatic magnetomyogram and the effect of breathing movements on cardiac metrics of rate and variability. Early Human Development 87; 467-475.

May, L.E., Glaros, A., Yeh, H., Clapp, J.F., Gustafson, K.M. (2010) Aerobic exercise during pregnancy influences fetal cardiac autonomic control of heart rate and heart rate variability. Early Human Development. 86; 213-217.

Birch, E.E., Carlson, S.E., Hoffman, D.E. Fitzgerald-Gustafson, K.M., Fu, V.L.N., Drover, J.R., Castañeda, Y.S., Minns, L. Wheaton, D.K.H., Mundy, D., Marunycz, J, Diersen-Schade, D.A. (2010) The DIAMOND Study: A double masked, randomized controlled clinical trial of the maturation of infant visual acuity as a function of the dietary level of docosahexaenoic acid. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 91; 848-859.

Gustafson, K.M., Colombo, J., Carlson, S.E. (2008) Docosahexaenoic acid and cognitive function: Is the link mediated by the autonomic nervous system? Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 79; 135-140.

Popescu, E.A, Popescu, M., Wang, J., Barlow, S.M., Gustafson, K.M. (2008) Non-nutritive sucking recorded in utero via fetal magnetometry. Physiological Measurement. 29; 127-139.

Popescu, E.A, Popescu, M., Bennett, T.L., Lewine, J.D., Drake, W.B., Gustafson, K.M. (2007) Magnetographic assessment of fetal hiccups and their effect on fetal heart rhythm. Physiological Measurement. 28; 665-676.