The Importance Of Environmental Enrichment

Environmental enrichment by definition is the “stimulation of the brain by its physical and social surroundings” (Wiki, 2016). This process takes place during neurodevelopment in the brain. During neurodevelopment, the brain is exposed to a stimulating environment, which leads to higher rates of Synaptogenesis (the formation of synapses in the neurons of the nervous system), more dendrites arbours and leads to an increase in brain activity. environmenatl enrichment enhances the capillaries vascular, providing glial cells with extra energy. It is wise to note, this process occurs both in animals and humans. However, it is commonly known to have been accurately experimented on animals, for examples rats. As this essay continues, it will critically

However, this research paved a ways for other scientist such as Mark Rosenweig. Rosenweig conducted his own experiment on enriched environment in 1960. Here he examined single rats in normal cages and rats placed in with toys, ladders and running wheels. His experiments were a success, as it provided positive results on the brain. He concludes that growing up in an enriched environment affected enzyme activity, therefore stimulating the brain cells. Other experiments were conducted by other scientist, in order to reinforce Rosenweig results. Scientists such as: Harry Harlow (1960). Instead of environmental enrichment, he conducted an experiment on environmental deprivation. His results established the importance of social stimulation for cognitive and emotional development.

The effect of environmental richness upon the brain occurs whether it is experience immediately following birth or during maturity. Seeing as synapses helps in the environment enrichment, therefore as synapses numbers increase in adult, they can remain

According to Aristotle, education is the creation of healthy mind in a healthy body. The way in which the mind obtains its information is through environmental enrichment, in the form of cognitive development. Cognitive development is a progressive reorganization of mental processes as a result of environmental experiences. Piaget explains that cognitive development consists of a constant effort to adapt to the environment in terms of assimilation and accommodation. A process which interprets events that changes the cognitive structure to make sense of the environment Brainerd (1978). Cognitive, development is facilitated by providing activities or situation that engages learners and requires adaptation, in order for enrichment to occur. An example, in which Piaget (1936) describes cognitive development, is through Genetic epistemology (the origin of thinking). The theory suggests that so long as the environment is not actively destructive, then cognitive development would unfold along genetically prescribed lines. This concept was discovered when Piaget became infatuated with the reason children gave the wrong answers to questions that required thinking. He believed that this revealed essential difference between the thinking of adults and children. With this said Piaget conducted series of simple tests to reveal different cognitive ability McLeod (2009).