How Environment Affects Brain Development

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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

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