Recent research findings in the field of neurobiology—the study of how the brain develops and functions—tell us much about the brain development of babies. New imaging technologies let scientists look at the brains of living adults and children.

The Brain at Birth

When your baby is born, his brain is ready for learning about you and his surroundings. He stares at your face and listens to your voice. In a short time, he'll recognize you.

Your baby's brain will grow quickly during the next few years, and by the time he is six years old his brain will be almost adult sized. Even at birth, babies' brains contain millions of brain cells, which are called neurons. Each neuron has dendrites and axons; dendrites are fibers that receive signals from other neurons, and axons send signals to other neurons and to dendrites.

Making Connections

One aspect of brain development in infancy and early childhood involves making connections. Brain connections are called synapses, and thousands and thousands are formed with everyday experiences. Synapses are crucial because they transmit brain impulses, which control body functions, thinking, feeling, learning, memory, and language.

Your toddler has a new toy, which he is exploring with lots of energy. His brain cells are firing away, and new synapses may occur with axons linking up to dendrites from other brain neurons. A single neuron can connect to as many as 15,000 others. Toddlers' brains will make many more synapses than needed for good brain functioning. Synapses that are used frequently will be strengthened and remain. Those that are not will eventually disappear. Neuroscientists call this process "pruning". So keep in mind that experiences such as holding and hugging your toddler, talking and reading to him, and providing him with age appropriate toys can encourage the growth and strengthening of brain connections.

Another aspect of early development involves increasing the connections to neurons in the front part of the brain, most particularly the area called the prefrontal cortex. These connections start to increase toward the end of the first year—and continue until the end of adolescence! The prefrontal cortex is sometimes called the area of our "Executive Functions" because it is involved in many goal directed behaviors such as organizing activities, planning, problem-solving, and evaluation of our own behaviors. Toddlers show beginnings signs of executive functioning when they slowly and carefully try to match a set of puzzle pieces to a puzzle board. They seem to be planning each move, a little bit like master chess players planning their strategic moves.

References

Ramey, C. & Ramey, S. (1999). Right from Birth. Building Your Child's Foundation for Life. NY: Goddard.
Shore, R. (1997). Rethinking the Brain: New Insights into Early Development. NY: Families and Work Institute.

Other recommended books for parents
Caring for Your Baby and Child, Birth to Age 5.
The American Academy of Pediatrics. Shelov, S.P. (Ed.)
NY: Bantam Books.
Bruer, J.T. (1999) The myth of the first three years: A new understanding of early brain development and lifelong learning. NY: Free Press.
Eliot, L. (1999) What's going on in there? How the brain and mind develop in the first five years of life. NY: Bantam Books.
Goedberg E. (2001) The executive brain: Frontal lobes and the civilized mind. NY: Oxford.
Marcus, G. (2004) The birth of the mind: How a tiny number of genes creates the complexities of human thought. NY: Basic Books.


Activities that promote Cognitive Development
Resource for Children
Resources for Parents and Care Givers
Insight on Brain Development