The effects the environment and genetics have on the development of a brain can be very misunderstood. It can be easy to misinterpret some of the ways brain development is effected through interactions at a young age; the impact of experiences with other organisms; and genetics play a role in this process as well. Stress at an early age can cause underdevelopment of the brain and lead to trouble in further growth. Genetics can also have an immense impact on brain development because it is caused by changes in an ancestors genetic makeup or the change of an environment. These few things affect the environment and genetics have on the development of a brain can be very misunderstood. These few things can affect development and the way the brain …show more content…
“In the first few years of life, more than a million neuron connections are formed every second” (Inbrief). Developing children seek interactions with other people. This helps with the process of neurological connections increasing and furthering development. If a child does not acquire these experiences or interactions, there is a gap in the process. Studies have shown that early development is immensely important because a platform for further growth is formed from when the child is born to about age 4 to 5 years old. “The brain is most flexible...early in life to accommodate a broad range of environments and interactions” (Center). The reason for such flexibility during this time is that the brain has to accommodate so much information. But with this flexibility comes a level of vulnerability for the brain. “Chronic, unrelenting stress in early childhood… can be toxic for the developing brain” (Center). If a child during age 4 to 5, and in this stage of time where progress is made are in part of any sort of extreme experience, it places the child in danger of lack of development. It also can make them more vulnerable to mental and/or a physical illness later in life, or no development during the period of time when the stress or event is occurring. These are just a few reasons why children need good and positive early age …show more content…
“Genetic information is best determined by behavior when the environment varies little from generation to generation” (Sherman). An example of this is when there was a guppy study done in 2014 on intellectual evolution. During this study, the researchers altered the surroundings to see if there was a change in genetics and/or brain development. Animals as well as humans are adapting and adjusting to match their changing environment. This can be observed in some recent studies. Scientist have seen a change in the way offspring of some animals brains develop. "Apes, some monkey species, elephants and dolphins, all respond positively...supporting the idea that cognition (high level of flexibility to social and physical environment) is important in behavioral development” (Breed). The environment acts like a framework for development and when the frame bends or warps that causes the brain to then modify to match the current framework. These are some examples of how brains are changing to match a changing environment and how growth of the brain is affected by
As every child grows up in a different environment, not all have a safe one to grow up in and as a result everything that surrounds them becomes apart of the clarity that their mind incorporates and becomes apart of that child 's behavior of way. In terms of brain development children or teens often listen, and see what is around them, it is also said, by researchers of the National Institute of Health, that in recent studies that were made that in teen years massive loss of brain tissue...
The first section of the essay will present an insight on the influences of genetic as well as environmental factors on child development. This section will illustrate the different aspects of child development that are best understood within an epigenetic framework and how theories of child development ‘escape’ without considering gene environment interactions. The second section will discuss the interplay between genes and environment and their significant contributions in a child’s development such as intelligence and acquisition of ‘cultural tools’. In this section, we will look at the concept of individual differences, the importance of learning their existence and how biological processes affect individuality through the study of the transactional model. The theory of evolution is a useful approach to understand what aspects of a child develop during his lifespan and how they occur.
Neuroscience is about how the brain develops and functions. how it influences cognitive function and behaviour. About how the nervous system functions how it develops, and what it does. (Neuroscience, 2017) Neuroscientists have shown that the brain is affected by environmental conditions throughout the entire process of development, even prior to birth. This includes the type of nourishment, care, surroundings and stimulation the foetus or infant receives.(moodle,2017)
Rao, H., Betancourt, L., Giannetta, J.M., Brodsky, N.L., Korczykowski, M., Avants, B.B., Gee, J.C., Wang, J., Hurt, H., Detre, J.A., & Farah, M.J. (2010). Early parental care is important for hippocampal maturation: evidence from brain morphology in humans. NeuroImage, 49, 1144-1150.
This chapter discusses The Evolutionary Perspective, Genetic Foundations, reproductive Challenges, and Heredity-Environment Interactions. Natural selection is the process by which those individuals of a species that are best adapted survive and reproduce. Darwin proposed that natural selection fuels evolution. In evolutionary theory, adaptive behavior is behavior that promotes the organism’s survival in a natural habitat. Evolutionary psychology holds that adaptation, reproduction, and “survival of the fittest” are important in shaping behavior. Ideas proposed by evolutionary developmental psychology include the view that an extended childhood period is needed to develop a large brain and learn the complexity of human social communities. According to Baltes, the benefits resulting from evolutionary selection decrease with age mainly because of a decline in reproductive fitness. At the same time, cultural needs increase. Like other theoretical approaches to development, evolutionary psychology has limitations. Bandura rejects “one-sided evolutionism” and argues for a bidirectional lin...
Guibert, Susan. "Modern Parenting May Hinder Brain Development." Modern Parenting May Hinder Brain Development, Research Shows // News // // University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame News, 04 Jan. 2013. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.
Brains and the more nonessential parts of the nervous system are made up of neurons (Meadows, 1993 p. 266). The brain is made up of neurons, axons, dendrites, and synapse. They all have their individual job that contributes to the functioning of the body. The weight of the brain increases as a child develops into adulthood. According to Siegler & Alibali (2005, p13), the changes in the size of the brain make it possible for advanced thinking. The neurons are the functioning core of the brain (Brotherson, 2005). The brain begins to develop in the mother’s womb and continue to develop as the child develops. The neuron has branches protruding from the cell sending signals to the synapse and axon. The synapse and axon shapes the brain which allows connections to be made. Young children learn new information when they follow the same routine on a regular base. If a parent repeatedly calls a child a certain name, then connections form that allow the child to recognize that name over time and he or she will begin to respond to that name (Brotherson, 2005). Through repetitive experiences the axons and synapse strengthen causing learning to take place.
The first two years of a infants development is crucial. They are dependent on their caregivers to provide them with enough nutrition, nurturing, attention, love, and experiences to not only learn about their surrounding world but how to interact with it. Without these experiences a babies brain isn’t given the chance to grow and develop the way that is was designed to. Unfortunately in many circumstances if these experiences don’t happen early on children suffer
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Brain Development is a nonstop development, we never stop learning so our brain isn’t going to just stop I mean well when it’s our time, but it won’t as long as you continue to learn and grow. The human brain begins to develop as early as three weeks after conception. But our brain development is a lifetime process. It doesn’t just stop developing at a certain age. There is a difference in brain development in children and adults the early life is impressionable then in the maturity aspect of life. This is a positive thing because as children they learn new thing they’re open to new and exciting things but then again it can be negative because children tend to be vulnerable to development problems. Our brain develops not only from nurture
Social; sciences has changed the thinking of youth, and they have different views regarding different things. The process of adolescent development has influenced children ritually. As children develop, physical changes will be apparent to the casual observer. What is less obvious are the many important physiological and neurological changes occurring that will facilitate the other areas of development. During infancy and early childhood, children develop an incredible number of synapses, or branches that reach between neurons. Shortly after this fantastic cycle of growth, many of these synapses disappear. Those that are used more frequently remain. This pro...
In the developing stages of a child, psychological factors play a huge role in th...
During infancy, and childhood the body’s physical development changes at an increasingly speed. During infancy and childhood, growth does not occur at a steady rate (Carel, Lahlou, Roger, & Chaussain, 2004). As the child begins to become older, they are capable of controlling their attention and behavior. The child then begins to experience mood symptoms or disorders more than ever. Having control over the brain allows the child to have control over their
Rapid growth of the brain and nervous system continues during the early years of a child’s life, however because of birth defects or health problems some children may be at a risk of cognitive delays. Problems such as Autism, where children may have a difficult time with language skills and sensitivity to touch, behavioral problems, or chemical exposures can all affect a child’s cognitive development. For most children though with a proper diet and plenty of stimulation cognitive abilities will develop rapidly, and by about 7 years ones cognitive skills have become “functionally related to the elements of adult intelligence.”
The development of the human brain is largely based on relationships acquired during the first few months of life. Traits that a child is born with differ from the ones that he or she gains from an outside environment. The types of things that effects the acquirement of these traits is the environment that the guardian provide, and the interaction between baby and guardian in that environment.