Brain Development Essay

Submitted By Bernard7519
Words: 1061
Pages: 5
Open Document
R.Bernard1
The human brain is one of the most complex organs that have mystified scientists. Even with all of the strides that science has made, there is still a great deal about the human brain that leaves scientists perplexed. There has never been a doubt as to the complexity of the human brain and its vast abilities. Of all the stages of brain development, infancy has to be one of the most critical of the various stages. When a child is conceived, by the eighth week of pregnancy (of a forty week duration) the fetus’s brain has already begun to form and send off signals and directions to the rest of the undeveloped body. During this prenatal phase of development the brain forms billions of neurons. These neurons are nerve cells that deal with the information that is processed and transmitted from the brain. In this stage the neurons are positioning themselves in their appropriate places. This is a very delicate stage of development for a developing and maturing brain. There are a variety of outside agents that can act as a hindrance in this process. Teratogens are agents that can cause birth defects or even worse, loss of the fetus. To measure the severity of a particular teratogen, scientists must look at the dose, genetic susceptibility and time of exposure. The dose pertains to the amount of the agent that has been consumed. For example, if significant amounts of coffee are consumed on a daily basis by an expectant mother, then it is more likely the caffeine would have an ill effect on her unborn child. Another tool used in measuring the severity of teratogen is genetic susceptibility. Genetic susceptibility identifies how severe the abnormalities are that have been caused by the teratogens. For instance, there can be two expectant mothers that both consume considerable amounts of coffee during the duration of their pregnancy. But because of their individual make R.Bernard2 up, one of the expectant mothers may metabolize the caffeine differently. While one fetus may suffer from the ill effects of the teratogen, the other fetus may be completely unharmed. Time of exposure is also a means of measuring the influence of a teratogen. The length of time deals with the stage of development that the teratogen was introduced to the unborn child and for how long. Certain exposures of teratogens have more of an adverse effect on a developing baby than others. There are several types of teratogens that can affect the brain development of a new born child such as alcohol, nicotine, stress and maternal diseases such as genital herpes, syphilis and HIV. Alcohol can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Newborns with FASD can be born with difficulty learning and even end up mentally retarded. With FASD, the child has the ability to end up with distorted facial features or many other developmental issues while growing up. Nicotine can also contribute to affecting fetal brain development. Women that insist on smoking during their pregnancy not only run the risk of having a child with low birth weight, but the child may also be born with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is a disorder that is very common among this current generation of children. Stress is another agent that have a great deal of effect on the brain development of an unborn child. Pregnant women who suffer from great deals of stress or anxiety are more susceptible to having children born with emotional or cognitive issues, language delay or ADHD. Although stress for anyone is a hazard, it is advised that expectant mothers tyr to avoid stress or stressful activities not only for their health, but for the health of their child. R.Bernard3 The effects of teratogens are also equated with maternal diseases. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that is treatable, but not curable. Women that have genital herpes run the risk of their baby being born with brain damage. This can be catastrophic
Show More

Related Documents: Brain Development Essay

Adolescent Brain Development

1. How is brain development related to adolescent impulsivity? During adolescent development, the brain processes information differently compared to the way that an adult brain processes information. Since a neural structure is not yet in place due to the prefrontal and frontal cortex still being in the process of development, the adolescent brain will rely on the amygdala (i.e. the section of the brain responsible for decision making and reactions) to process their emotions. This is different…

Words 1780 - Pages 8

Brain Development Outline

A. A minimum of 2 years Thesis statement: Learning to play an instrument can significantly impact brain development in both children and adults, although there are more benefits if one starts at an earlier age. I. Playing an instrument causes physical changes to the way that the brain functions. A. Neurophysiological distinction between sounds B. Improved neural processing II. Improved life skills are another result of having music education. A. Better planning and coordination…

Words 989 - Pages 4

Essay on Hope: Brain and Brain Development

negative side effects with their brain development. The human brain is one of the most important muscles in the human body, and in children the brain is sensitive to all outside influences. It is reported that infants who’s households argued more than most were put through a test while sleeping and simple sentences that were said in angry voices caused increased “clustered activity in parts of the brain responsible for stress and regulating emotions”(Chant). Children’s brains are constantly learning and…

Words 318 - Pages 2

Notes On Brain Development

different part of the body develop along different time tables. – Canalization- development tends to follow and return to a normative course. • Norms and Individual Differences – Represent average outcomes – Wide variation in individual differences occur within normal range – Growth affected by larger genetic and cultural factors Development of the CNS • Division of the nervous system that consists of brain and spinal cord • Processes information and directs behavior • Develops at many…

Words 1609 - Pages 7

Epigenesis Brain Development

developing during the course of human development (Gottlieb, 1996). New neural systems change the way in which an individual behaves. As a result, new behaviors create the opportunity for new stimuli in the environment. Through the process of experiential canalization, development is shaped by biology and environment acting together to promote certain abilities over others (Blair & Raver, 2012). Therefore, a new environment with novel stimuli affects the way in which the brain develops from that point onward…

Words 670 - Pages 3

Nature/Nurture Brain Development

Nature and nurture both influence the development of the brain. The influence of the environment on the brain is constantly being studied. The effect of experience on the brain is one that most people are not aware of. The more people experience the world and are exposed to various stimuli, the more specialized and molded the brain becomes. Studies examine the Fusiform Face Area (FFA) of the brain to see how specialization plays a role in our perceiving of objects and faces. Through the FFA, the…

Words 1033 - Pages 5

Brain Development During Adolescence

Brain Development and Intelligence Brain Development during Adolescence The development of cognitive skills during adolescence is due to a range of factors; time, practise etc. The physical maturation of the brain is also important. The brain continues to develop through adolescence, with some structures not being mature until a person is in their early 20s. Most of this development occurs in the region of the brain known as the Cerebrum, the large top section made up of two hemispheres (halves)…

Words 461 - Pages 2

Evolution Vs Big Brain Development

look at the brain from that perspective it will raise a lot of questions in regard to the ten percent myth. Such as, why the larger brain development if we only use ten percent of what is in our head? Eric Chudler adds, “Certainly there are several pathways that serve similar functions. This concept is called "redundancy" and is found throughout the nervous system. Multiple pathways for the same function may be a type of safety mechanism should one of the pathways fail.” Amazingly the brain never gets…

Words 420 - Pages 2

Effects Of Early Childhood Stress On Behavior And Brain Development Essay

experiences on human behavior and development, the authors report. Early-onset and long lasting changes in anxious behavior and amygdala function were observed in mice exposed to disorganized parental care early in life, mirroring the heightened emotional reactivity and amygdala changes in orphanage-reared children. The changes persisted long after the children were removed from the stressor, and did not diminish with the development of prefrontal regulatory regions in the brain. According to the authors…

Words 1359 - Pages 6

Greasing The Skids Of A Musical Mind: Article Analysis

article titled “Greasing the Skids of A Musical Mind” described ways in which music prepares the mind for learning and brain development. Bugos applied five key principles of mind brain education (MBE) in order for readers to understand how music affects the brain’s development. Jennifer Bugos states in her thesis that teaching strategies and approaches help to develop the brain. According to Bugos, these are the five principles of MBE: uniqueness, context and ability, level of experience, lifelong…

Words 598 - Pages 3