The Plastic, Fantastic Brain

In their article, "Linking Brain Principles to High-Quality Early Childhood Education," which is included in the Exchange Essential: Implications of Brain Research — Part 2, Stephen Rushton and Anne Juola-Rushton note...

"Neuroscientists now understand that the brain’s neurons continue to both develop (plasticity) and disappear (pruning) throughout most of our lives.  However, we experience the greatest growth — and a high volume of pruning — in early childhood.  During pregnancy, neurons grow at an astonishing rate of 250,000 per minute.  This process slows down somewhat after birth.  However, up until the age of 12, pathways continue to be formed and the thickening of the myelin sheaf, which supports the speed of the electrical impulse between neurons, thus creating a more efficient brain, continues to develop as the child interacts with her environment.  Those neurons that are not stimulated or make connections to other neurons are pruned away and dissolve.

"Providing meaningful, positive experiences for children actually alter the formation of their brains!  Each time a child enters a stimulating classroom — one in which the child is invited to talk, share ideas, and manipulate materials — the number of connections made between neurons increases."

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