Nagoya University Nov 1 2024 Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are an established therapy for pregnant women at risk of preterm birth to help mature the fetus's lungs and reduce the chances of serious health issues. However, researchers at Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine have found evidence that babies treated with ACS have smaller volumes of two key brain areas, the bilateral amygdalae and caudate nuclei, which are essential for emotion processing and motor control, respectively.