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Early Brain Development: Implications for Social Emotional Development

Early Brain Development: Implications for Social Emotional Development. Betty Rintoul, Ph.D. Encouraging Connections. Role of Experience. Repeated use strengthens brain connections. If connections are not used, they may be “pruned” away.

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Early Brain Development: Implications for Social Emotional Development

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  1. Early Brain Development: Implications for Social Emotional Development Betty Rintoul, Ph.D. Encouraging Connections

  2. Role of Experience • Repeated use strengthens brain connections. • If connections are not used, they may be “pruned” away. • The brain “grows itself” for the environment it experiences. • Much of this experience-based growth occurs in the frontal cortex (the “executive brain”). Encouraging Connections

  3. Recent Research Reports…. • Suggest that children’s social and emotional well-being is critical to their success in school and in life. • Surgeon General’s Report on Children’s Mental Health, 2000 • Off to a Good Start, 2000 • Neurons to Neighborhoods, 2001 • Set for Success, 2002 • Ready to Enter, 2002 • Hardwired to Connect, 2003

  4. Hardwired to Connect • Commission on Children at Risk released this report in September, 2003. • Collaboration of neuroscientists, doctors, and social scientists. • Reflects on rising rates of mental problems and emotional distress among U.S. children and adolescents.

  5. Update on Child Well-Being • 6% of US children are taking psychotropic medications. • 300% increase between 1987 and 1996. • 300% increase for psychotropic medication for 2 to 4 year olds between 1991 and 1995. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2003 Journal of the American Medical Association, 2000

  6. Update on Child Well-Being • Increase in serious emotional and behavioral difficulties in very young children, especially those involving self-regulation and communication.

  7. Hardwired to Connect • Concluded we need to move from special programs for “at risk” children to recognizing broad societal conditions that are contributing to growing numbers of suffering children. • Crisis in lack of connectedness: • Close connections to other people • Deep connections to moral and spiritual meaning

  8. Connection Deficits? Sample of 125 foster children under age 6 • Over 80% had developmental or emotional problems • 50% had both Klee, Kronstadt, & Zlotnick, 1997

  9. Hardwired to Connect • Mechanisms by which we become and stay attached to others are biologically primed and increasingly discernable in the basic structure of the brain. • Nurturing environments, or the lack of them, affect gene transcription and the development of brain circuitry.

  10. Nurture Affects Brain Development • Nurturing touch promotes growth and alertness in babies. • Presence of a secure attachment protects toddlers from biochemical effects of stress. • Abused children pay more attention to angry faces – reflected in brain’s response. Field, 1986; 1995 Gunnar, 1989; 1996 Pollak, et al., 2003

  11. Nurture Affects Brain DevelopmentAnimal Studies • Well-nurtured pups develop into laid-back adult rats. • Good foster mother monkeys can alter the development of highly reactive temperaments. Meaney, 2001 Suomi, 2002

  12. Hardwired to Connect • Social environments can affect genes at the level of transcription to reduce genetically based risks.

  13. Neurobiological Ties that BindAnimal Studies • Not only do differences in maternal attention predict emotionality of the offspring, but also predict how the offspring will mother their own pups. • The underlying neural systems mediating these behaviors appear to be changed by positive nurture. Meaney, 2001 Suomi, 2002

  14. Encouraging Connections, 2003

  15. Neglect of physical or emotional needs Promote Child’s Potential: Create Developmental Risk: What Research Tells Us:Aspects of Relationship with Caregiver that... • Gentle, responsive nurturing • Clear, consistent expectations & supervision • Harsh or inconsistent punishment • Little expressive speech; excessive prohibitions • Positive & responsive verbal interaction • Stable environment and caregiver • Frequent changes in caregiver, routines Encouraging Connections, 2003

  16. Encouraging Connections, 2003

  17. Depression, emotional stress, substance abuse What Research Tells Us:Aspects of Caregiver Well-being that... Create Interactional Risk: Promote Positive Interaction: • Good mental health • Adequate knowledge and education • Less than high school education • Social isolation, poor relationship skills • Social support • Adequate time and energy • High child:caregiver ratio • Adequate resources • Inadequate space and play materials, excessive noise Encouraging Connections, 2003

  18. Encouraging Connections, 2003

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