Q: brain development depends only on genes?
A:. No, brain development begins is the result of a complex interaction between genes and environment, brain development in utero. Billions of neurons are generated. They migrate from their birthplaces to their final positions in the embryo. Axons and dendrites grow and connections (synapses) between nerve cells are formed. These mechanisms may be wired, which is determined by genetics.Once compounds are formed, the employees of business mechanisms come into play. If a connection is strengthened or eliminated are determined by the activity of this compound, which means that the experiences of the child / baby from.
An example of how the environment affects brain development: Rutter et al. (1998) studied Romanian orphans adopted and brought to England before the age of two (about 6 months ago). If to judge on their arrival, the children have been shown tohighly malnourished and developmentally impaired. If after a few years in the environment of the adoptive parents' (aged 4) tested, the children have shown great progress and physical development, particularly those adopted before 6 months.
Q: How can a child outwitting his / her genes?
A: Yes, this can be done, says Richard Nisbett, the author of "Intelligence and how to get it: Why do schools and cultures Count". In this interview, Nisbett explores the interaction between genes, the school andIntelligence: "If our genes largely determine our IQ, which in turn strengthens our ability in the course of our lives, then what is the role of the school"
In another interview, this child prodigy Joshua Waitzkin is exchild American chess player, author and martial arts competitor, as it depends on learning to know.
Q: Are children born with more or fewer neurons and synapses as adults?
A: Children are more neurons and synapses, and was born as adults. In aStudy in 2007, Abitz, Damgaard et al. 8 human infant brain compared to those of 8 adult brain and showed that the mean estimates of adult neurons were 41% lower than that of the newborn. What happens to these extra neurons and connections then? The synaptic response is cut (or pruning of neurons).
Synaptic pruning is a regulatory process that the total number of neurons is reduced by an excess production of "elimination" of the weaker synapses. A synapse is a weak synapsesThis is not used much, which shows that experience is an essential component of brain development.
Q: 'Under 5 years is the only critical period for brain development?
A: No, brain development is a continuum from birth to 20 years or so. A "critical period" in development is a time early in the life of an organism, while the body has a very high sensitivity to certain stimuli in the environment. If the stimuli in the environment areBody to develop in a certain way. If the stimuli, not during the critical period exists, it may be difficult or sometimes impossible, to develop some functions. For example, if a child does not see the light in the first months of life (at least 6 months), the nerve and the processing of visual input neurons degenerate and die.
The best known example of the critical period comes the critical period hypothesis (Lenneberg, 1967), which means that the first statesYears of life are the time, developed in language easily. After that, learning a difficult language and usually less successful.
This is the case, however, that "everything that has happened 5 years ago?" Want to be a critical period for 0-5 years, all cognitive skills important? No development is more of a trajectory, a continuum. Show brain imaging studies and other studies have shown that the brain is not fully developed until the age of 18-20 In particular, the frontal lobes of theThe brain's role in the decision, organization, planning and strategy development involved the latest wired to function as an adult.
Q: What is a game to bring a child?
A: Research has shown that play is crucial for the physical, mental and social-emotional for all ages. This is particularly true in the purest form of play: the unstructured, self-motivated, imaginative, independent kind, where children start their own games and even invent their ownown rules. In other words, it plays a powerful method of cognitive and emotional development for children and adults.
Q: Can a child with ADHD trained to control the attention?
A: Yes, in particular the training of working memory has an indirect effect on attention. Many studies have shown that such training can be beneficial for children with attention problems. More generally, as Michael Posner, a prominent scientist in the field of cognitive neuroscience, saysThe focus is to control complex, but can be trained.
Q: Can a child control his / her feelings?
A: Parents and teachers tell children countless times "calm" or "respect". But the natural course of development of a child means that the circuits of the brain to calm and focus a work in progress. Fortunately there are ways to help children: meditation training a very effective tool seems to support children to manage their emotions and improveIntelligence.
Q: Can the art of pushing a child's academic performance?
A: Some studies suggest that the arts can increase test scores, although the results are not always causal. Scientists have noted psychologist Michael Posner, the brain activity of children 4-7 years, while on the computer exercises is to focus the attention of the investment in quality work of art to imitate. The researchers concluded that art can trainchildren's attention, which in turn improves cognition.
Q: What is the effect of music on the brain of a child?
A: 'listening to Mozart make babies smarter? It turns out that despite all the publicity he received the so-called Mozart effect is supported by a few scientific evidence. However, learning to make music in the long-term positive changes to the brain. Music lessons can improve specific skills that are directly associated with the music asImproving motor skills, but also more general skills such as working memory.
Q: What is the effect of video games on the brain of a child?
A: For years, video games have been brought to aggression and violence in collaboration with researchers and media reports suggesting that violent games have inspired or even result in violence. But not all games are the same. Some games may be a child's visual skills, such as the ability to gather relevant information by a rapid pushSequence of visual events, or the ability to resolve small details or see a weak model. Other games can also improve general brain functions such as empathy: Actually, the video games with positive goals can actually inspire people to perform acts of charity.
Dr. Pascale Michelon
