Early Brain Development

1
Early Brain Development

2
Synaptic Activity

• Rapid climb in first three years
• Sustained growth until teen years
• Some decline in teens years
• Sustained growth over a lifetime

3
Neurons The BuildingBlocks

• Born with 100 billion
• Waiting to connect
• Cell body, axon,
• dendrites and synapses

4
Neurotransmitters

• Chemicals that affect the formation, maintenance
  and activity of synapses, neurons
• Excite or inhibit function
• Over 50 neurotransmitters identified
• Endorphins reduces painSerotonin low levels
  are associated with aggression high levels are
  associated with lack if initiativeCortisol
  activates body/brain defenses when under
  stressMelatonin promotes sleepNoradrenaline
  along with adrenaline heightens awareness

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Brain Development

• Cortex - reason and logic
• Limbic - emotion and long-term memory
• Brainstem - survival info. path to spinal cord
  and the rest of the body controls involuntary
  activities (breathing, heart rate, blood
  pressure),
• Cerebellum - balance and automatic
  movements

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Regions of the Brain

• CEREBRAL CORTEX
• Frontal lobe - Thought, walking, speech, problem
  solving
• Prefrontal lobe - Allows for planning and
  rehearsing future actions
• Parietal lobe - Taste, touch, hand-eye coord.
• Temporal lobe - Memory, emotion, smell, hearing
• Occipital lobe - Vision, visual recognition
• CEREBELLUM - balance, coordination,
  cardiovascular activity, breathing
• BRAINSTEM - Heart rate, breathing, REM sleep,
  crying

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Review

• What is the brain?How does it function?Why
  study the brain?

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Neuroscience and Research in Early Brain
Development

• Neuroscience deals with the study of nerves and
  its structures
• With technology, scientists and physicians have
  new methods to study the brain that are not
  intrusive
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) gives a detailed
  view of the brain
• Detailed images of specific regions of the brain

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Imaging techniques

• Positron Emission Tomography-PET Scan

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Implications

• Brain research has challenged traditional
  assumptions
• Once thought that our genes determined how our
  brain developed
• Genes are relevant in predisposing us toward
  certain traits
• Environmental factors and an affect on brain
  development
• Roles of Nature and Nurture determine
  intelligence and emotional resilience

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Environmental Factors

• Care
• Nutrition
• Surroundings
• Stimulation
• What else?

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Quality of Care

• Nurturing is key to learning and the regulation
  of emotional responses
• The way parents and caregivers plan childrens
  contact with the environment affects the
  formation of neural pathways
• Secure attachments during the 1rst year of life
  seem to predict social competency as child grows
• Therefore, quality of care and secure attachment
  build healthy brain development.

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Nurturing Positive Brain Development Means

• Providing a warm and loving environment
• Feeling of safety and security
• Playing interactive games, so children may make
  connections to language and sound
• Responding to cues and clues in childrens mood
  and rhythms
• Looking for the teachable moments.