The Impact Of Technology On Our Understanding Of The Developing Brain

In the neural tube, neuroepithelial cells line the ventricular wall, are densely packed, and form the ventricular zone. They will eventually divide and form radial cells which act as stem cells and provide scaffolding. While continuing to migrate, migrating cells then differentiate into neurons and glia. The development of the brain can now be considered, from a cellular viewpoint, as a sequence of six different stages, most of which happen during prenatal life. We first start off with phase 1, neurogenesis, which is the mitotic division of nonneuronal cells to produce neurons, phase 2, cell migration, is the massive movements of nerve cells or their precursors to distinct areas of the nervous system. The 3rd phase is cell differentiation, the changing of cells into distinct types of neurons or glial cells. Then we have the 4th stage of synaptogenesis, the formation of synaptic connections, which are equal to small gaps through which nervous system cells communicate to one

The latest research into development and learning of babies and young children shows that early stimulation are vital to the healthy development of brain. Babies are born with 100 billion neuron cells and they need to connect together in order to function. Many of these connections are made as result of what a baby senses and experiences. Stimulation, sufficient sleep and healthy diet makes a difference in allowing connections to be made. Development of brain begins well before birth. Neurons (cells in the brain which transmit electrical impulses to other cells) are formed between the 10th and 20th week of pregnancy. These cells are critical as they will later join together to allow the brain to function properly. Electrical pulses pass between cells via dendrites and axons which causes the connection between the neuron cells. The dendrites and axons of the neurons develop and begin the process of joining up in the final two months of pregnancy. Those that have not made enough strong connections are killed off and this is one reason why some children are

Within the video the Secret Life of the Brain on the “babies brain”, which is the first episode, focuses on the formation of the infant brain. Taking an in depth examination on the factors of brain development: brain organization, the roles of genetics, and environment. With just a matter of a few weeks after conception brain cells begin to form spontaneously at a rather alarming rate. From birth to age one an infant's brain is primarily formed through external influences and experiences.

1. Brain Based Research: What does this tell us about young children 's brains and how they best learn? What ideas do teachers of young children need to keep in mind?

Infant learning and brain development is fragile and contingent upon numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The most critical time frame for infant brain development is from the second trimester to the first three months of life (Marshall, 2011). During this time, neural pathways are forming, areas of the brain are maturing, and brain development is rapid. From infancy until the age of 3 years, neural pathways are still being formed in response to stimulation and for this reason, it is extremely important for caregivers and parents to be aware of the many factors that can influence brain development in infants (Marshall, 2011).

Developmental cognitive neuropsychology seeks to understand and explain the relationship between the human brain and its function. One might consider the extent to which cognitive development can be understood in terms of the specialisation of function in specific structures of the brain. Two contrasting theories of functional specialisation will be presented, debating the means by which brain functions develop and contesting the influence environment bears upon the maturing brain. To enable exploration of this topic, an account of key concepts of brain development will be offered throughout. The

Debates have been circling of when the human brain is developed new research from Sandra Aamodt and has shown brain development

Advancement made in regard to cognitive neuroscience has enabled a better understanding of the cognitive processes in infants. Studies have indicated that cognitive development in infants starts before they are born. In the eighth week of pregnancy, fetuses have the ability to hear. They become accustomed to their

The pregnancy period is also a main factor with the brain development. The reason for that is because they learn the voice of their mother from her reading. So when the baby is born the can recognize their mother by her voice. During the first trimester is the formation of neural tubes. About seven weeks after the neurons and synapse begin to develop in the spinal cord, which allows the fetus to make movement. In the second trimester is where the gyri and scili appear in the brain surface. This process is called myelination. This allows the information to process faster in the brain. In order for the brain to achieve the same level of efficiency without myelination the spinal cord would have to be three yards diameter. The third trimester is the transitional period, which is the reflexes such as fetal breathing and responses to the stimuli. Also, during this period the cerebral cortex supports early learning. As they start to get older they are able to develop more

During the first trimester of pregnancy, abnormalities of the migrating neuroblasts and glioblasts may result in abnormal gyral development, leading to a disorder known as lissencephaly. Lissencephaly (a term derived from Greek words for “smooth brain”) is characterized by a smooth cortical surface, and occurs because there is a disruption of the ordered migration of neurons to their permanent place in the brain cortex.

Although most of the nervous system is developed by the time a baby is born, the development extends beyond birth. The development of this system is complex and involves many processes and phases that form what we know as our nervous system, allowing humans to think, feel, move, and function in many different and unique ways. Through a biological scope, we know that there are three phases of the developmental process. This first phase occurs during the first week and is known as the “germinal stage, the next 7 weeks of pregnancy are the embryonic period, and the final 32 weeks (weeks 9-40) are the fetal period” (Rouse, 2016). At the embryonic stage “the inner cells rearrange themselves into a disk which the embryo forms” (Rouse, 2016). The

The brain grows with miraculous, rapid speed beginning two weeks after conception. In like manner, it stays relatively small to accommodate the birthing process, however immediately following birth; the brain grows at a much faster pace. Nevertheless, it weighs only about twenty- five percent of its adult weight at birth, in comparison by the age of two; this same wonderment of a brain will measure closer to seventy-five percent of its adult weight. A most important part of the brain is the cortex containing about four to six thin layers of squiggly tissue that cover the brain and is a crucial part of the brain because most thinking, feeling and sensing occur there.

as it is involved in several adaptive tasks in brain regions of young infants (McEwen et al. 2013). The plasticity of the PFC has been known to being significant for the functionality of cognitive tasks in children (McEwen et al. 2013). Basic elements such as rationalizing and decision-making are part of critical thinking and neuronal components in the brain (McEwen et al. 2013). The brain is the most significant part of the body that is designed to alternate in response to life event that change people’s lives (McEwen et al. 2013). Plasticity in growing stages of a child’s life has evolved in order to provide children with the best chances of proliferation, cell expansion and reproduction (McEwen et al. 2013). Anatomy and physiology methods that are associated with the PFC are quite interesting in how they relate with plasticity and interconnecting information (McEwen et al. 2013). The neurons that are interconnected and share a range of extrinsic connectivity act as basic units for functionality of sending messages and accepting it (Halliwell et al. 2013).

There are three areas of brain development that occurs during early childhood. These three areas of development include myelination, growth of the corpus callsum and lateralization. Myelination is the process by which axons become coated with myelin. Myelin is a fatty coating on the axons that speed signals between neurons. Myelination plays an important role during early childhood. During early childhood most increased brain weight occurs because of myelination. Effects of myelinataion becomes notable in the motor and sensory ares of the brain, children begin to think at greater speeds and their thoughts occur with rapid succession. By early childhood most children are able to immideately name objects, catch, throw and write in proper sequences

When a baby is conceived, development of the brain begins almost immediately. The brain continues to develop from pregnancy though adolescence. During pregnancy almost, all the brain cells are formed. However, not all the connections work yet. The connection of the nerve cells is not developed until the baby is born on into infancy. There is so much that must occur for the baby to have a normal functioning brain. Sometimes there are neurologic disorders that can occur that involve the brain, spinal column or nerves. Neurological disorders can have different causes, symptoms, issues, and prognoses. You’ll see the symptoms based on where the damage occurred. The two Neurological disorders that will be examined are Ohtahara syndrome and Batten disease.