Transcript Brain Wonders. Early Learning and the Brain

BrainWonders:
Early Learning and the Brain
Sharon Greenip, M.Ed.
ZERO TO THREE
From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The
Science of Early Childhood Development
Committee on Integrating
the Science of Early
Childhood Development
Board on Children, Youth, and Families
Institute of Medicine
National Research Council
Take-Home Messages
 The traditional nature versus nurture debate is simplistic
and scientifically obsolete
 Early experiences clearly influence brain development,
but the focus on birth to three begins too late and ends
too soon
 Early intervention programs can improve the odds for
vulnerable young children, but those that work are rarely
simple, inexpensive, or easy to implement
Take-Home Messages
 How young children feel is as important as how they think,
particularly with regard to school readiness
 Healthy early development depends on nurturing and
dependable relationships
 Culture influences all aspects of early development through
child-rearing beliefs and practices
Take-Home Messages
 Substantial evidence indicates that poor nutrition, specific
infections, environmental neurotoxins, drug exposures, and
chronic stress can harm the developing brain
 Significant parent mental health problems, substance
abuse,and family violence impose heavy developmental
burdens on young children
 There is little scientific evidence that special
“stimulation” activities beyond normal, growthpromoting experiences lead to “advanced” brain
development in infancy
Imagine a brain....
The Brain
Pre-natal Development
The nervous system
begins to develop just
before the third week
of gestation.
Talking Reasonably and Responsibly about
Early Brain Development, University of
Minnesota
(Eliot, 1999)
Cell creation and
movement to the right
spots occur during the
first five prenatal
months.
Major Brain Systems
•
Brain Stem
•
Limbic System
•
Cerebellum
•
Cortex
Brain Stem
“Survival”
(examples: reflexes, vital signs)
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Limbic System
“Emotion”
(also Physiology and Memory)
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Cerebellum
“Movement”
(coordinates & smoothes)
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Cortex
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Occipital Lobes
Vision
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Temporal Lobes
Hearing & Language
Memory & Emotion
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Parietal Lobes
Somatosensory Perception
Visual-Spatial & Visual-Motor Functions
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Frontal Lobes
Executive Functions
Voluntary Movement
Judgment
Emotional regulation
Problem solving
Decisions
Planning
Creativity
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
How are brains like faces?
Brains are like faces.…
• Similar, yet unique.
• Growing over time.
• Can be scarred, can heal.
• Changed by experiences.
Growing a Brain:
Early Experiences & Infant Mental Health
Nature vs. Nurture?
Biology & Environment
Work together to shape the brain.
Language
Biology
Environment
Recognize
speech
Particular
language
Discern sounds
Vocabulary size
Word meaning
Dialect
Brain Growth
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Brain Growth
Key Words
• Neuron
• Pruning
• Plasticity
• Windows of Opportunity
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Neurons
Image: www.brainconnection.com
© 1999 Scientific Learning Corporation
Pruning
Newborn
Early
Childhood
Later
Childhood
Plasticity
The brain's ability to change as a
result of experience.
Windows of Opportunity?
What things are
important for healthy
brain growth?
Growing a Healthy Brain
• Nurturing experiences.
• Good nutrition.
• Intervening early.
• Protection.
• Taking care of the caregiver.
BrainWonders
www.zerotothree.org/brainwonders
What a wonderful, thorough,
educational site. I will pass it
along to parents…
- Montessori director
This is a great site! I am
definitely going to tell the
parents of our students about
this!
- Preschool Teacher
BrainWonders Partnership