Brain Development
Posted on May 27, 2009
Even amidst the Wall Street meltdown a loss of 100 billion catches our attention. Yet we all have experienced such a loss and in one respect are better off. At birth the brain matter of a newborn is comprised of roughly 200 billion neurons. By adulthood that number has been reduced by roughly half! Yet, contrary to the way you may feel on some days, adults really are more intelligent than their children. Obviously, the myriad reasons for this growth of intelligence are more complex than the Headliner can address; however, the simple answer is that brain function is not strictly dependent on the numbers of cells or on the overall size of the brain. Brain function is determined by the interconnecting branching network between available neurons. It is more accurate to say that intelligence is related to the “plasticity” of the brain rather than to its volume.
About now your own brain is wondering, “Why should I care?” The answer in two words is summer vacation. The story of prenatal development, neonatal development, and of childhood is the story of brain development. Nutrition in the most complete sense is essential for proper brain development. Regions of the brain that are stimulated intellectually receive hormonal and nutrient baths that encourage branching and connections with neighboring neurons. Such connections appear to permit the cross-referencing and analogical reasoning we associate with intelligence. Finally, nightly periods of 10 hours of sleep are essential. Research now indicates that it is during non-REM sleep when the majority of our “intelligence branching” occurs. The reverse is also true. Non-stimulated areas are literally destroyed, and therefore, forever unavailable for utilization.
Educationally this is earthshaking news. The temptation during summer vacation is to “leave the classroom behind.” Such a tactic would be counterproductive to cognitive development. Puzzles, role-playing, reading and creative writing are wonderful summer activities that literally lay a foundation for a lifetime of further development. Use summer activities to encourage broad, relational, interconnected, higher-order thought. Remember too that when you insist upon sound nutritional habits and sleep patterns at home it is one more way that you are participating in the educational process. Have a restful, safe and educational summer!!
