This knowledge is very important for parents! Age stages of brain maturation. Child Brain Development: Secrets of Success

Intuitively and empirically, we all know that childhood is a slightly different world, with its own perception, its own reaction speed, its natural unpredictability.

The brain of a child functions differently than the brain of an adult: children think differently, behave differently, learn differently. These age-related features of the formation and functioning of the brain are studied by age-related cognitive psychology and neuropsychology. In this material, the word "adult" refers to the period of life from 18 to 25 years; from 11 to 18 years old teenage years; from 4 to 10 - the period of childhood; up to 4 years - early childhood.

Decades of research on the development of the child's brain have shown that it is the early childhood years (namely, from 1 to 4 years) that are the most important for the further emotional, social, and cognitive spheres of a person's life.

Briefly about the main elements of the brain

The brain is made up of huge amount neurons connected to each other via synapses. Neurons form various large structures: the cerebral cortex, the brain stem, the cerebellum, the thalamus, the basal ganglia - everything that is very often called "gray matter". But for the connection of these structures, nerve fibers are responsible - "white matter". White color Nerve fibers are attached to myelin, an electrically insulating substance that coats these fibers.

Let's look at the features of the three whales, without which the development of the brain is impossible, and violations in which lead to serious diseases.

Neurons:

Synapses:

  • Provide communication between each pair of neurons
  • Each neuron is surrounded by thousands of synapses.
  • Synapses connect thousands of neurons

Myelin:

  • Coats the fibers of adult neurons
  • Necessary for the efficient transmission of electrical impulses
  • Increases the efficiency of connections between neurons by 3,000 times

Different areas of the brain are active at different ages

Brain research has shown that completely different areas of the brain work most actively in adults and children.

In children, the brain stem and midbrain are primarily active. The brain stem controls the heartbeat, blood pressure, and body temperature. The midbrain is responsible for awakening, appetite/fullness, and sleep.

In adults, the main working areas are the limbic system and the cerebral cortex. The limbic system controls sexual behavior, emotional responses, and motor activity. The cerebral cortex is responsible for concrete thinking, meaningful behavior, and emotionally rich behavior.

Development of brain connections

The structure of the human brain is built continuously from the moment a person is born. The first years of a person's life directly affect the structure of connections between neurons, forming either a strong or fragile basis for further learning, mental health and behavior. During the first years of life, 700 new neurons are formed every second!

The first to develop are sensory zones, necessary, for example, for vision or hearing; then the zones of language skills and cognitive (cognitive) functions enter. After the first period of rapid growth, the number of connections formed is reduced due to the aging process - the removal of unused connections between synapses so that the signal paths from neuron to neuron become more efficient.

Briefly about milestones in the development of synaptic connections in the brain

Newborns:

  • Automatic functions develop, 5 senses are formed, motor functions
  • Brain size is 25% of its future adult size
  • Implicit (unconscious) memory allows you to recognize the mother and family members

From 1 year to 3 years

  • At this time, up to 2,000,000 synapses are formed in the brain every second.
  • During this period, the future structure of the brain is laid.

3 years

  • The volume of the brain is already almost 90% of the future adult volume
  • Explicit (conscious) memory develops
  • By this time, the ability to learn, social interaction and emotional response has already been laid.

4 to 10 years

The brain of a child at this age is more than twice as active as the brain of an adult: about 20% of the oxygen consumed is spent on the functioning of the adult brain; on the functioning of the brain of a child at this age - up to 50%.

8 years

Logic abilities begin to form.

At this age, the process of maturation of nerve connections begins: little-used connections cease to be active, so that only the most effective paths for the passage of a nerve impulse remain. The frontal lobe begins to interact more fully and quickly with other areas of the brain.

14 years

The process of myelin formation begins in the frontal lobe, which opens up new avenues for learning, since impulses are conducted through myelinated fibers 5-10 times faster than through unmyelinated ones. Why the frontal lobe? Because this area of ​​the brain is responsible for planning, problem solving and other higher mental activities. Risk assessment, prioritization, self-assessment and other tasks during this period begin to be solved much faster than before.

23 years old

The process of maturation is being completed: by this time, almost half of the children's synapses have already been removed from the brain. Other changes that occur in the brain after the age of 20 are still poorly understood.

25 years

The myelination process is completed. The brain is fully mature. Not at the age of 16, when in America you are allowed to drive; not at the age of 18 when a person gets the right to vote; not at age 21, when American students get the right to purchase alcohol; and closer to 25, when in the same America young people get the right to rent a car.

The brain is still able to build new connections between neurons while the learning process is taking place. However, the brain is most plastic and receptive to change at an early age; the maturing brain becomes more specialized to do more complex functions which leads to difficulty adapting to changes or unforeseen circumstances. There is a telling example: during the first year of life, the areas of the brain responsible for the differentiation of sounds become more specialized - they seem to “tune in” to the wave of the language spoken by the environment. At the same time, the brain begins to lose the ability to recognize the sounds of other languages. While the brain never loses its ability to learn other languages ​​or master other skills over the course of a lifetime, these connections will never again be able to rewire so easily.

Many parents turn to a neurologist in extreme situations - when the child's behavior becomes inappropriate and even shocking. Meanwhile, the attention of a neurologist is required for many children who are considered "virtually healthy." The fact is that the development of the central nervous system of a child occurs gradually, and at almost every stage a malfunction may occur that will require the attention of a specialist. Symptoms of CNS damage can be both obvious and almost imperceptible. However, if they are not diagnosed in time and the root cause is not eliminated, the child will experience certain developmental difficulties.

What factors of pregnancy and childbirth can adversely affect the development of the child's brain, as well as what features of the first year of a baby's life should be paid attention to.

Invisible connections

The development of the central nervous system does not occur simultaneously. Parts of the brain are formed in utero, they divide and new nerve cells appear. Out of utero (after the birth of a person into the world) nerve cells remains unchanged, but new connections are formed between them. Thanks to this, the child has the potential for development and the ability to learn: motor, mental, speech, etc. The most "ancient" parts of the brain are responsible for internal environment: breathing, digestion, sleep and wakefulness, regulation of vascular tone, etc. Above are the departments responsible for hearing, body position in space, vision. Even higher are the centers responsible for voluntary movements. The youngest cells are responsible for speech, the ability to independently build a program of action, and control behavior.

If a defect has formed in some place of the brain (tumor, hemorrhage, insufficient blood supply), then not only this area, but also those that are above it, will not be able to function. This is due to the fact that the excitement from the underlying departments goes up. When a barrier appears in the form of dead brain tissue, the impulse goes around this dead area. And therefore, it may not fall into some overlying area at all. As a result, connections between different departments brain, there will be no inclusion of some departments. Those cells that were flawlessly laid during pregnancy will not be able to start functioning on time and correctly. There will be no so-called maturation of the brain.

What causes crashes?

The fact is that the brain is laid starting from the third or fourth week of pregnancy. Any infection carried in the first trimester can cause serious damage to it. Any pharmacological drug, eaten by mom during this period, can also lead to fatal consequences.

In the first trimester, it is not the harmful factor itself that is important, but the period in which it acted. Despite the fact that the risk of giving birth is not entirely healthy child in this case, it is elevated (namely, elevated, and not "great"), I personally do not share the fears of obstetricians-gynecologists who recommend terminating a pregnancy after any runny nose that has passed in the first trimester. Our experience shows that with serious violations in the intrauterine development of the child, the mother has a miscarriage.

Children with severe damage to the central nervous system are born, as a rule, when a pregnancy that is not entirely successful in the first trimester is maintained by all means, using hormonal preparations and suturing the cervix. But even here there are no rules without exceptions. We must remember only that only parents are responsible for the birth of a child. And in case of interruption normal pregnancy no doctor will be punished.

In the second and third trimesters, the development of the brain, and most importantly, its resistance to birth trauma, is strongly influenced by the placenta. Accordingly, the poor work of the placenta, circulatory disorders in this important body, its premature maturation can affect the development of the nervous system. So, for example, if a mother suffers from kidney disease, then the placenta may swell, which will disrupt its work.

If the pregnancy went well, then even a not very serious birth injury may have a negative value for the development of the central nervous system. Too much quick delivery(less than two hours), extrusion of the fetus, long standing of the head in the birth canal, tight entanglement of the umbilical cord, etc., can cause small-point hemorrhages in the lower parts of the central nervous system. The consequences of these disorders can be very different: from increased muscle tone and speech delay to serious problems with physical activity.

If the child has suffered a birth injury, then you need to do it in. At this time, through a large fontanelle, the doctor can look "inside the head" and establish the presence of a hemorrhage. This is important, because by the end of the second - the middle of the third month, traces of birth hemorrhages disappear. And later, doctors will not be able to say for sure whether there was a birth injury and whether it is the cause of the child's neurological problems.

What does it threaten?

Pregnancy and childbirth: risk factors

If you do not or have not had the opportunity to examine your child in a timely manner, you can use our tests to understand how high the risk is that the baby has neurological problems. If you plan to visit a pediatric neurologist, draw his attention to those items on the test for which you gave the baby one point or more.

Questions about pregnancy Answers Scoring
What is the pregnancy number? first 0
each subsequent 1
How did the previous ones end? had abortions every 1
miscarriages every 2
stillborn children every 3
Was there toxicosis in the first half of pregnancy?
Toxicosis in a mild form does not harm the baby, but if the mother lost more than 5 kg in the first half, then this should alert the doctor.
Such toxicity requires drug treatment and close observation.		 No 1
yes, nausea 0
yes, vomiting 1
indomitable vomiting 2
Was there toxicosis in the second half of pregnancy?
Toxicosis of the second half can lead to the birth of a child with low body weight, and can also indirectly talk about bad job placenta. These children are more susceptible to birth trauma.		 No 0
yes, swelling 1
yes, high blood pressure 2
protein in urine 3
Overall weight gain throughout pregnancy less than 10-15% of pre-pregnancy weight 0
15-20% 1
20-25% 2
over 25% 3
Was there a threat of miscarriage? No 0
yes, in the first half of pregnancy 1
in the second half of pregnancy 2
What was the threat of miscarriage?
Tell the neurologist how the doctors managed to keep your pregnancy.		 mother in good shape 1
bleeding 2
Did you get sick during pregnancy? Tell your neurologist what medications you took and at what stage of your pregnancy. No 0
mild single cold with a temperature not higher than 37.5 1
Each subsequent or more severe single 2
Questions about childbirth Answers Scoring
At what time did the birth take place?
The exception is large mature 10-month-old babies who earn 0 points.		 on time 0
28-32 weeks 1
24-28 weeks or 32-36 weeks 2
20-24 weeks or later than 40 weeks 3
Were there any complications? placental abruption 2
malposition of the child 2
abnormal placenta previa 2
Were obstetric aids applied? forceps 3
extrusion 3
surgical interventions 3
anesthesia 3
rupture of the fetal bladder 1
application of stimulation 1
Tell the doctor the weight, height of the child at birth; head and chest circumference. a newborn weighing at least 2800 g and having a ratio of weight in grams to height in centimeters 58-60 0
premature 1
child with malnutrition (thin and long) 2
Did the baby cry in the delivery room? straightaway 0
after some event 1
How long was the waterless period? 2-8 hours 0
less than 2 and more than 8 hours 1
What were the waters like? transparent 0
green 2
the front waters are clear and the back waters are green 1
When was the baby put on the breast? in the delivery room 0
on the first day 1
later 2
Describe the pressing period and the period of exile pushing period no more than 20 minutes 0
20-30 minutes 1
more than 30 or less than 10 minutes 2
It is bad when the head is born from the first, second attempts. Too rapid expulsion can lead to cerebral hemorrhage. 2

Evaluation of results

Calculate your points. If there are no more than 20, the child may have a mild lesion of the nervous system. This means that such a baby will not fall asleep well, or will not want to roll over from his back to his stomach on his own, later he will sit down. In kindergarten, it will be difficult for teachers to cope with him. At school, he will yawn in the third lesson.

Ideally, a completely healthy child should not score a single point. But as we know, now such children are practically not found. Let's take a simple example. Everything was fine during pregnancy. departed clear waters, contractions began, then after four or five hours - attempts, the pushing period was not more than twenty minutes, the child was born, and then there was an outpouring of green waters. What does it say?

In medical language - a dry phrase: "The front waters are transparent, and the rear ones are green." On a universal level - the child did not receive enough oxygen during childbirth, it happened oxygen starvation body, the intestines relaxed, and the original feces - meconium - went into the uterine cavity. In principle, the brain might not have suffered, since the head had already been born. But the spontaneous discharge of meconium suggests that there was still a moment of asphyxia in childbirth.

If the patient scored more than 20 points, then he can be suspected of a serious brain lesion. From the very first months, the baby may lag behind in development - not responding to his mother's voice or lying indifferently in wet diapers, without submitting a request for swaddling. Such children can only sleep and eat up to six months, not be interested in toys. They may have reduced or sharply increased muscle tone. In the first case, the child will "hang" while in his arms. In the second - for swaddling it is impossible to part the legs and arms. Or maybe the other way around. The kid worries about every occasion, requires an endless swing in his arms, heightened attention to your own person. Overall spectrum clinical symptoms with brain damage is very wide. At the slightest suspicion - address to the children's neurologist.

First year of life: pay attention

Questions Norm
When did the child start holding his head? 1-1.5 months. Healthy newborn should tighten the head if it is pulled up by the handles in the supine position. For a short time for a few seconds in the position on the stomach, it can raise its head from 2-3 weeks.
When did you start rolling over? Rolling over - at 3-4 months, spinning well - at 6 months.
Did the child turn equally well to the right and to the left? Back to belly and belly to back?
How did the child lie in bed (was the banana position)? Normally, the position of the body both on the back and on the stomach should be symmetrical
Did you play with your feet (grab them, put them in your mouth)? At 6-7 months, especially developed children - at 3-4 months
Which hand grabbed the toy? The baby alternately takes the toy with his right hand, then with his left hand, and sometimes with both at once. Or he will grab one, bring it closer to his eyes, and then take it and hold it with both.
When did you sit down? At 6-8 months. Maybe from a supine position, or maybe after crawling from a position on all fours. Both are considered normal.
Did you crawl? If so, how? At 7-8 months, rocking, standing on all fours, then crawling back, then forward. This is necessary for the coordinated work of the arms and legs, the formation of an eye in the lower field of view. If the child first crawls in a plastunsky way, and then gets on all fours, this is normal. If his movements are asymmetric at first, but within two weeks alignment occurs, this is also the norm.
When did you get up without support? 9-11 months
When did you go without support? 9-16 months
Was there a smile for the first few months?
When and how did you start getting to know your mother? 2-4 months. Focusing the gaze, smiling when the mother approaches at a distance of about 20 cm.
The first sounds in a calm state: "Ah, uh, oh, oh-oh-oh." First month
First words? 18-24 months
First phrases? 18-24 months
Did you play with toys? How and what? By the age of one, a child should be able to shift objects from one hand to another, use objects correctly: eat from a plate, even a toy, roll a car, wrap a doll, feed, swaddle, put cubes on top of each other.
Note also whether the child was sick in the first year of life. If yes, then what. Which doctors he was / is registered with.

If you, dear parents, something worries - do not be shy once again disturb the doctor. This is our job. If the doctor of the district clinic dismisses you, does not pay attention to your concerns, look for another specialist. The main thing is that you must be sure that everything is in order with the child. Or - to understand what is happening, and start treatment in time.

Babina Anna Melanchenko Elizaveta pediatric neurologist
Article from the magazine "Our Baby", March 2003

The causes of brain atrophy in children can be the following factors:

  • genetic predisposition;
  • congenital malformations of the central nervous system;
  • external influences that provoke or aggravate the process of death of brain nerve cells. These can be various kinds of diseases with complications on the brain, exposure to alcohol consumed by the mother during pregnancy, etc .;
  • ischemic or hypoxic damage to brain cells;
  • exposure to radiation on the fetus during pregnancy;
  • effects on the fetus of certain drugs used future mother during pregnancy;
  • infectious lesions after diseases in early childhood;
  • use of pregnant alcohol, drugs.

Not only cells of the cerebral cortex, but also subcortical formations are subject to death. The process is irreversible. It gradually leads to the complete degradation of the child.

Symptoms

The main cause of brain atrophy, as mentioned above, is a genetic predisposition. A child is born with a normally functioning brain, and the process of gradual death of nerve cells in the brain and neural connections is not detected immediately. Symptoms of brain atrophy in children:

  • there is lethargy, apathy, indifference to everything around;
  • motor skills are impaired;
  • the existing vocabulary is depleted;
  • the child ceases to recognize familiar objects;
  • cannot use familiar objects;
  • the child develops forgetfulness;
  • orientation in space is lost, etc.

Unfortunately, there is currently no effective methods blocking the degradation process. The efforts of physicians are aimed at stopping the process of death of nerve cells of the head kind, to compensate for the death of neural connections by the development of others. To date, numerous research works are being carried out in this direction. Perhaps, in the near future, children with a threatening diagnosis - brain atrophy, can be effectively assisted.

Diagnosis of brain atrophy in children

First of all, in order to diagnose the disease, the doctor will examine in detail the state of health of the mother of the child during pregnancy - all past illnesses, bad habits, possible exposure to toxic substances, insufficient or poor-quality nutrition, prolonged pregnancy, toxicosis and other factors. Understanding the root causes, it is easier to diagnose the disease in a child.

In addition, a number of surveys are carried out:

  • neurological examination of the child;
  • assessment of metabolic indicators;
  • Apgar score.

Additional examinations include:

  • neurosonography;
  • dopplerography;
  • various types of tomography: computed (CT), magnetic resonance (MRI), positron emission (PET);
  • neurophysiological studies: electroencephalography, polygraphy, diagnostic punctures, etc.

Based on the results of the examinations, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment, which, most often, is symptomatic.

Complications

Complications of brain atrophy are manifested by the extinction of functions various bodies until their complete extinction. Clinical manifestations - blindness, immobilization, paralysis, dementia, death.

Treatment

What can you do

Having learned that the child has a terrible diagnosis - brain atrophy, you do not need to give up and panic. Now much depends on the relationship of relatives and friends, and most importantly - parents. Surround your child with maximum attention and care. It is necessary to strictly monitor the regimen, nutrition, rest, sleep. It is not recommended to change the familiar environment. From day to day, a repetitive daily routine contributes to the establishment of certain actions, rituals, and, as a rule, new neural connections in the brain. Of course, it all depends on the degree of damage to the area of ​​the cerebral cortex or its subcortical neoplasms, but there is no need to lose hope.

What does a doctor do

Treatment of brain atrophy has a symptomatic focus, since today there are no effective ways to block the process of death of nerve cells in the brain. Despite the unfavorable prognosis of the disease, one should show patience and perseverance, follow all the instructions and recommendations of neurologists. Medicine does not stand still. Scientists are developing new methods for the treatment of the most severe diseases. Maybe very soon there will be ways to help kids with terrible diagnosis- atrophy of the brain.

No less difficult than for parents, it is also necessary for the doctor of a sick child. Based general condition the child, the degree of brain damage, the doctor prescribes sedative therapy, physiotherapy, medications - and all this, depending on the symptoms.

Prevention

The high-risk group includes children whose mothers during pregnancy allowed themselves the use of alcoholic beverages, which have a detrimental effect primarily on the brain of the child to be born. Therefore, recommendations for the prevention of the disease are mostly for expectant mothers. Diseases transferred during pregnancy can provoke the development of brain atrophy in the baby. Therefore, you should be especially careful about your health during pregnancy, perform simple recommendations for the conduct healthy lifestyle life and proper nutrition.

It will not be superfluous to repeat once again about the dangers of smoking, as well as drug use. If suspicion is genetic predisposition one of the spouses, then the right decision would be to undergo genetic counseling even before the planned pregnancy.

If the family has already faced the problem of the birth of a child with brain atrophy, then prevention is aimed at preventing the re-birth of offspring with a similar diagnosis. Special genetic tests will determine the presence of a mutant gene in parents.

Articles on the topic

Show all

In the article you will read everything about the methods of treating such a disease as brain atrophy in children. Specify what effective first aid should be. What to treat: choose medications or folk methods?

You will also find out what can be dangerous untimely treatment brain atrophy disease in children, and why it is so important to avoid the consequences. All about how to prevent brain atrophy in children and prevent complications.

And caring parents will find on the pages of the service full information about the symptoms of cerebral atrophy in children. How do the signs of the disease in children at 1.2 and 3 years old differ from the manifestations of the disease in children at 4, 5, 6 and 7 years old? What is the best way to treat cerebral atrophy in children?

Take care of the health of your loved ones and be in good shape!

Before birth, there is only one priority: protecting the development of the brain "in the womb", as the environment gradually takes over from genetic factors. Fine process, incompatible with alcohol and stress.

It all starts three weeks after conception, when the embryo is formed in the form of three petals. various cells, one of which will begin to create a basting of the nerve canal. This primitive channel will become more complex, which will eventually give an amazing tool - a brain capable of learning, making decisions, thinking, creating, loving ...

This process is so complex that it takes at least twenty years to complete it! The great discovery of the neurosciences of the last decade: the brain "in the womb" is not blind, not deaf to the outside world. The germinal brain does not change in a tightly closed space. Of course, the pressure of genetics dictates the calendar of major events, but the pressure of the environment changes the program laid down at the moment of conception. Under the environment should be understood other organs of the embryo and the maternal and extra-maternal environment.

After studying the brain of embryos in animals, it turned out that during development, the environment gradually takes precedence over the genetic program. Nature "feels" what changes should be made depending on the events. Any external factor, acting on the fetus, can have a direct effect on the development of his brain.
The first prerequisite for a future mother: admission folic acid(vitamin B9) even before conception. It is now known that the risk of developing two neural canal defects, myeloarrhaphy and congenital spina bifida, can be reduced by a daily intake of 0.4 mg of folic acid. Moreover, it must be taken at the time of the formation of this channel, between the 24th and 26th day of pregnancy, when a woman may not yet know about it. Therefore, taking vitamin B9 is necessary when a woman is preparing to become pregnant.

Between 10 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, neurogenesis occurs: stem cells located in the nerve canal multiply and differentiate, forming a reserve of 100 billion neurons. Then there is a migration between 12 and 24 weeks. These new neurons are assembled in six layers stacked on top of each other. This is the future cerebral cortex, a layer of convolutions that covers both hemispheres of the brain, receptacles for all developed brain functions. Each neuron is programmed to occupy a certain place and create synapses (zones of connections) with other neurons. Then one day a spark runs through. Electricity flows through these circuits for the first time. The brain becomes functional.

All these stages are extremely vulnerable. You need to be careful about everything that is absorbed, and alcohol - the worst substance. It negatively affects all stages of brain development and all types of cells. This will cause undesirable symptoms in the child: fine motor disturbances, behavioral disturbances, a decrease in CI, and all this only worsens with time. There is no threshold effect. Each woman's metabolism of alcohol is different, and it is impossible to predict what the threshold of vulnerability of the fetus is.

Another danger is stress. It makes the fetal brain fragile by doubling the amount of stress hormones (one of them is cortisol) in the blood. It also increases the risk of preterm birth. And preterm birth is not the ideal solution for good development brain. Those born before 28 weeks are at risk of motor, cognitive, and behavioral problems. Of the babies born at 24-25 weeks who were followed up to six years of age, half had severe developmental delays, a quarter had a moderate delay, and a quarter had no consequences.

How to avoid such dramas? A well-known molecule, melatonin, which helps repair damage, is now being tested. Clinical trials for premature babies (before 28 weeks) have already begun. These children will be given melatonin from birth. The results will be available in a year.

PRIORITY TO RELATIONSHIPS

Added to the number of neurons we have is the quality of the networks we create. A return to the great principles of brain mechanisms.

Vocabulary

1. Gray matter
It includes the cell bodies of neurons and their dendrites, as well as the terminal branches of axons. This is where synapses form.
white matter
It corresponds to the myelin armor that covers the axons. Axons gather in networks that connect different areas of the brain with each other.
2. Neuron
Functional unit of the nervous system. It consists of a cell body with a nucleus and branches: the only axon that produces an electrical signal, numerous dendrites receive it.
3. Myelin
Consists of fatty acids and forms a sheath around the axon. Instead of a constant flow, the electrical impulse travels in "jumps" between these shells, accelerating the speed of propagation. In adolescence, the age of all change, it changes from 0.5 m/s to 120 m/s.
4. Synapse
A zone of functional contact that is established between two neurons or a neuron and a cell (for example, a muscle cell). The synapse transmits the nerve impulse.

The brain specializes

At the National Institute of Mental Health, three-dimensional tomography clichés of people aged 5 to 20 were collected into one film.

This is the first time that adolescents have been shown to have gray matter loss. Since 1991, every two years, children have undergone tomography. Conclusion: Gray matter is at its peak between 11 years (girls) and 13 years (boys) then decreases, and the white matter increases in volume. A sign that the brain is specializing (removing connections) and becoming more efficient (myelination of axons).

Eternal plasticity

New synapses are constantly being created from the moment of intrauterine life until death under the influence of various stimuli and learning. The more often a nerve impulse passes through a synapse, the more it increases in size and becomes more efficient. Less use, less efficiency. Perhaps even disappearance.

Very high speed

During the maturation of the brain during childhood and adolescence, some axons are sheathed in myelin to dramatically speed up nerve impulses.

From 0 to 10 years - "Big Bang" of synapses

Neurons born at birth tend to make connections: great learning begins. The best stimulation? Word, parental care. Trap: TV and "genius production" programs.
A child of two and a half years old has a vocabulary of 200 words. He is already talking, asking his parents questions. He explores the world touches everything without realizing the danger. He climbs on a chair for a cake in the buffet, if he fails, he demands until he gets what he wants ... There is a real thing in his skull volcanic eruption! At his age, hundreds of millions of synapses occur every second in the building cortex of the brain. His brain is experiencing a "Big Bang" of synapses.

Imagine tissue in constant remodeling: 100 billion neurons given at birth do not divide, but shoot out axonal branches (transmitters) like tentacles in search of numerous contacts for nerve signaling. The quality of the brain is determined by the richness of connections. Is it possible to facilitate this process in a child? Yes, science answers, and, above all, parental care. After birth, the reaction of some genes is enhanced to changes in the outside world. This is where parenting plays an important role. In rodents, the absence of a mother or father after birth has been shown to disrupt the topological distribution of the synapses of some neurons in the limbic cortex (the brain of emotions). And this violation persists adult. In addition, the richness of the connections of some synaptic circuits seems to be proportional to the amount of maternal care in relation to the newborn!

After the first stage of expansion comes the time of synapse contraction. The brain is under the influence of successive waves of production and removal of synapses. Each wave corresponds to a critical period of development, when different types learning - walking, language, reading, mobility, etc. This continues until the end of adolescence...

Once the critical period is over, it becomes more difficult for the individual to learn. The primary task is to stimulate the child during these critical periods. Studies conducted in orphanages have shown that children who have not received any stimulation suffer from developmental delays that are difficult to compensate for later. On the contrary, one can ask oneself the question, is it possible to accelerate development?

In 1997, Hillary Clinton, when her husband was President of the United States, organized the Baby Learning and Brain Conference. The question was raised cognitive development, resulting in a passionate debate on the other side of the Atlantic. In conclusion, it was decided to encourage parents to train their children through music lessons, reading aloud and numerous contacts.

The main goal was to stimulate the development of children from a disadvantaged environment. But marketing, as always, prevailed. CDs with infant stimulation programs immediately appeared. And now programs like "Baby Einstein", "Baby Brain" and "Baby Genius" are selling like hot cakes. For example, Baby Einstein offers a program for three-month-old babies to "encourage the use of motor abilities" or "teaching babies words and language signs" starting at 9 months. And parents sit their kids in front of these programs, thinking that this will improve their abilities ...

Delusion! In 2007, a rebuttal study appeared in the Journal of Pediatrics. After a telephone survey of 1,000 parents about the time their children under two years of age spend watching TV and the number of words they learned, the guillotine knife fell: there is no correlation between sitting in front of the TV and learning a language. Worse, those who watched "baby programs" were 17% slower in language learning than those who didn't.

More specifically, vocabulary acquisition slows down in infants between 8 and 16 months of age and does not negative consequences in children aged 17 to 24 months. You should not despair. Nothing indicates that video leads to permanent damage. But it is better to remove the discs and get out the keys, pots or pans with which babies like to play more.

As for television, it can cause attention problems and sleep disturbances before the age of two. By the way, Swedish pediatricians banned television for this age. On the contrary, after five or six years appropriate smart programs can provide stimulation.

What to do to stimulate the development of the child's brain? Answer: talk to him! Even when he can't speak yet, he maps the language from the sounds he hears. Babies are like a computer without a connected print. They cannot reproduce what they store in their heads. What's more, theory and research shows that early conversations with infants are preparation for their future reading development. Parents should not overreact. Science tells us to do what we already do with our children: talk, play, make faces, be interested in them. You just need to find the time to do it.

From 10 to 18 years old - the nerve flow is gaining the highest speed

The age when everything is accelerating: the personality is formed, and the brain takes its final form, selecting the necessary neurons and connections. This phase usually coincides with the high vulnerability of the individual.

Teenagers are self-centered, lazy, irrational. This is the "ungrateful age" when young people are interested in video games, alcohol and drugs... These are the most common opinions about this period of transition from childhood to adulthood. The reality is somewhat different.

The vast majority of young people (80%) feel well and are satisfied with their growing up. Many will later remember this period as the happiest. In fact, puberty is a trump card. This is the age of intense creativity, reflection, intelligence, even genius, when you see how young people master new technologies.

The age when the personality is formed, and the brain, little by little, takes on its final shape. And this is due to two parallel phenomena: elimination and myelination. Until the onset of puberty, synapse density is maintained at its highest level. Never again does an individual have so many synapses. From the moment of puberty begins the great elimination of synapses. For example, in monkeys, the density of synapses decreases by 40%.

Why such a hecatomb? The brain is freed from neurons and connections that are no longer needed for the development of circuits. During this plastic surgery, the best thing for the teenager is to provide a rich interaction with a structured sensory and sociocultural environment that is wide open to the new.
In parallel with synaptic elimination, myelination occurs, which began in childhood and has now intensified and completed: axons, the transmission fibers of neurons, are covered with an armor of myelin (rich in glycoprotein). The nerve current will move along the axon not in a constant mode, but by jumping over the armor. Result: the transmission speed of the nerve current goes from 0.5 m/s to 120 m/s. The stroller turns into a car!

In other words, the teenager's brain selects the most useful neurons and connections, while at the same time turning transmission cables into high-speed optical fibers: specialization occurs. All these phenomena, first found in monkeys, have also been found in man. Current tomographic research methods have traced the maturation of the brain from 5 years to adulthood. From this, the scientists hypothesized that the immaturity of the prefrontal cortex in adolescents may explain characteristic impulsive and risk-taking behaviors. There is some unfairness in expecting a teenager to show organizational skills or decision-making at the level of an adult until his brain is fully formed.

But last August, a stone was thrown into this garden. A three-year study was conducted 91 young man aged 12 to 18 years, and their risk behavior was assessed by a special questionnaire. Their brains were examined with a special tomograph that visualizes bundles of myelinated axons, the fine structure of white matter. Observations have shown that instead of the immature cortex, risky adolescents have white matter fibers that are more similar to the same fibers in adults than to the fibers of more cautious young people. This does not change the essence of research, but adds new complexity to them. Perhaps the most mature experience less anguish, and therefore are more inclined to take risks ...

True, there is an opinion that these studies were predictable in advance: a teenager is characterized by his love of risk. But this is not true. Many teenagers do not take risks. Even in case of addiction. Three quarters of teenagers don't drink. For the remaining quarter, the danger to the brain is great. Such a teenager is extremely vulnerable, because he is still being formed. And the sooner he starts to try alcohol or drugs, the more serious the problem.
In 2009, a study was conducted on the effects of excessive alcohol consumption on the brain. They tested 36 young people aged 16 to 19, half of whom were in a state of extreme intoxication. All have passed tests on a tomograph and cognitive tests. Result: There is white matter damage and deterioration in cognitive tests in adolescents who drink alcohol.

With regard to cannabis, a statistical relationship has been shown between drug use and the risk of schizophrenia in fragile individuals. The drug also contributes to the development of depression. In this case, parents and young people should contact a narcological consultation. But the main thing is to tell parents that, contrary to popular belief, they mean a lot to a teenager. The secret is to adapt your behavior to his age. Hold the hand and accompany, but do not direct. And indifference is tantamount to a refusal to communicate.

From 20 to 60 years old - constant renewal

The brain continues to create synapses, which are evidence of high adaptive capacity. But for the implementation of new connections, it is necessary to constantly nourish the brain.

After 30-40 years of active life, our brain constantly works from morning to evening, receives information, remembers, analyzes, decides ... and provides all mental functions: speech, thinking or memory, and also regulates vital functions (heartbeat, breathing intestinal transit...) and performs sensitive functions. And all this without any stress! And only when difficulties arise - difficulties in finding a word, dizziness, headache We start worrying about our health. Then we realize his needs. However, the brain must be constantly dealt with if we want to maintain its effectiveness and prevent its destruction.

Brain development ends at age 25. The main circuits lined up and stabilized, and the prefrontal lobe, the receptacle of higher cognitive actions, finally matured. At this age, the brain reaches the peak of its power. Then comes a quiet fade.

It all starts with a drop in the ability to fine-tune learning (musical instrument, foreign language...). For, contrary to popular belief, the loss of neurons in adulthood is low. It is significant only in the case of neurodegenerative diseases.

The first good news is that the brain has resources. Two zones - at least - continue to produce new neurons at the level of the hippocampus and the olfactory cone, which provides the brain with relative neuronal plasticity and some restorative possibilities.

But most importantly, the brain does not lose its amazing ability change and create new synapses. Synaptic plasticity, so evident in childhood, does not completely leave us. In an adult, synaptogenesis exists until death. It allows you to constantly progress and almost exactly adapt to life changes.

It is connections that keep the brain functioning. During learning, repetitive stimuli (gesture, word...) culminate in the exchange of ions between neighboring neurons and the creation of new synapses. Suppose an accountant wants to become a cabinetmaker: the synapses of the areas of his motor cortex corresponding to manual dexterity will increase, and those that were mobilized for calculation will weaken. Any type of stimulation is capable of inducing a change in communication networks.
But for these new connections to take place, the brain must be maintained, fed, trained, even stimulated. How? Every scientist has his own idea. Establishing new bonds requires energy, oxygen and essential nutrients. It is better to live in an intellectually rich environment. Professional life, if it provides enough stimulus also provides quite a few ingredients to keep the brain at peak functioning levels. And the more various aspects of the brain are explored, the better.

Some people in search of the best achievements do not hesitate to resort to pharmacology. Known psychomotor stimulants: caffeine, amphetamines, cocaine, as well as new molecules (modafinil, ampakines or histamine series). But do they really stimulate synapses? Researchers are skeptical on this issue. For it is impossible to artificially increase the number of neurons and connections. There are, of course, regulatory mechanisms that maintain a given level of activity. You can get a slight improvement, but do not think that these substances are "boosters".

In addition, there is the problem of dependence on these molecules, as well as effects on the rest of the nervous system. What about modafinil, a molecule designed to fight insomnia but widely used by healthy people to shorten sleep? Who knows its influence on the personality, the manner of seeing others and the world? These molecules affect the reward system, and those, in turn, affect decision-making systems.

A problematic game of dominoes.

After 60 years - the work of both hemispheres

Of course, at a certain age, the brain becomes less reactive. But he retains "cognitive reserves." And they must be stimulated to perform intellectual activity.

If a person retires while continuing to lead an active life, he has every chance of avoiding neurodegenerative diseases.

How does intellectual activity protect the brain? It is not known exactly, but there is a hypothesis that finds more and more evidence. The brain has a "cognitive reserve" that can to some extent compensate for the damage caused by the disease.

What is brain aging? Progressive process of loss of plasticity. All neuronal membranes saturated with lipoproteins are gradually oxidized. Nerve cells - mainly axons - become rigid, causing a gradual slowdown in the transmission of nerve impulses in the circuit. The brain becomes less flexible, less reactive. It processes information worse and adapts poorly to changes. So you should try to avoid it. oxidative stress membranes. A difficult struggle, but it is possible - in particular with the help of nutrition and intellectual activity. Do not send your neurons to the warehouse after retirement! We need to buy books and games that can stimulate the brain ...

A ten-minute “mind gymnastics” for a day will not change the state of affairs. It makes no sense to hope that it will be easier to remember the place where you hid the keys the day before, filling the Sudoku grid every day... After all, our memory works as a complex of separate modules. In a visuo-spatial exercise, one module is activated while the others are on hold. But games can be stressful if they fail, so these situations should be avoided. After all, every stress damages nerve cells that are already damaged by oxidative stress.
One more obligatory thing: keep your feelings in order. The aging of feelings does not make things easier. When vision and hearing deteriorate, a person isolates himself and weakens. Correcting the sensory input of information, for example, using hearing aid, the negative effect can be reduced. All research shows the same thing. Activity of any kind should be encouraged among the older population, and it is growing in our societies. A true healthcare choice with no side effects.

HOW TO STIMULATE YOUR ABILITIES

Sleep well to stay awake

Sleep is essential for good brain function. For in order to improve cognitive abilities, one must be ... in a cheerful state. This allows synapses to return to a resting state.

How much does a person need to rest? There are people who sleep little and sleep a lot. It's genetics. But if you sleep less than seven hours, you risk losing efficiency. The brain achievement curve has two peaks: two hours after waking up and the period from 2 to 6 pm, when the core body temperature reaches its maximum. The rest of the time, everyone may have a loss of vigilance, drowsy state at the height of the day.

To combat this condition, you can drink one to two cups of coffee, depending on the weight and speed of digestion. The plasma quotient quickly rises and remains at its maximum for 30-45 minutes, but the awakening effect is felt after 10-15 minutes. It is worth adding a fifteen-minute siesta. And you will have maximum vigilance for the next 4-5 hours.

Avoid stress so that there is no atrophy

Stress releases cortisol. It has been shown that in an excessive environment of corticoids, the neuron weakens and even degenerates. Therefore, with repeated exposure to stress, some areas of the brain are damaged. The main consequence is depression. The memory-related hippocampus atrophies, and the amygdala, which is responsible for fear responses, becomes overactive. The connections between the orbitofrontal cortex (reward circuit) and the limbic cortex (emotion circuit) are broken, the prefrontal cortex (thinking, organization) slows down. Hence the lack of desire, uncertainty, hypermotivation ...

It is better to treat depression in advance to avoid repeated crises. The more depressive episodes a person has, the less stress leads to new depression. In the brain of an elderly person, two areas do lose their neurons: the hippocampus and the substantia nigra (control of movements).

This degenerative phenomenon is present in everyone. For most people, there is a likely cognitive reserve (auxiliary neurons). But often neurodegeneration builds up, causing Parkinson's disease, Lewy's bodily madness, or Alzheimer's. Stress accelerates this degeneration by two or three years...

Psychostimulants - don't give in to temptation

Off-label certain medications to increase the level of results? Too much risk, starting with methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin), which is prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child after 6 years of age. It is used to increase the level of concentration.
Under typical amphetamine exposure, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the “reward system,” but side effect there will be insomnia, mood disorders, melancholy... and increased risk pharmacological dependence.

Another star of psychostimulants is modafinil. It is given to big sleepers, but it is misused to combat lack of sleep, which leads to brain disorders, insomnia, dizziness, anorexia...
New substances - ampakines. This family, currently in clinical trials, improves nerve impulse transmission by activating AMPA receptors present in neurons. The CX717 is designed to keep sleep-deprived soldiers awake. Side effects not yet published...
Among the drugs, cocaine and amphetamines increase wakefulness by increasing the release of dopamine in the brain. But they lead to the strongest addiction, dependence and serious consequences in the long term.

Choose your desired menu

Rich in fatty acids

The brain consumes 20% of the body's energy. The neuron requires a constant supply of oxygen (oxidant), glucose (fuel) and various nutrients. The transmission of a nerve impulse is provided by the biological membrane of the neuron, which envelops the cell body and its branches, which consist mainly of fatty acids. Therefore, a diet rich in fatty acids maintains membrane structure and nerve impulse transmission. But not all fatty acids are needed! Only the essential fatty acids, alpha-linolenic and linoleic from the omega-3 and omega-6 families (fish oil, colza, walnut...) are effective.

Rich in complex glucides

Unlike "fast" sugars (sweets), complex glucides contained in cereals, primarily in bread and dough, as well as in white beans and green peas, decompose slowly and maintain normal level blood glucose for several hours. They should be included in three meals daily.

A little bit of vitamin C

Vitamin C, located at the tips of nerve endings, enhances communication between neurons. The recommended daily dose is found in about 100 g of raw broccoli (half is destroyed when cooked) or 160 g of orange.

Plenty of water

Water improves brain irrigation. To avoid brain fatigue, you need to drink 1.5 liters of water per day, adapting to the heat and physical activity. Instead of coffee, it is better to drink two large glasses of water, and in ten minutes there will be an improvement.

Nothing "easy"

Dinner should contain complex glucides to avoid nocturnal hypoglycemia, otherwise the memory process will worsen.

Nothing too sweet

The preconceived idea - common among students - is to drink an energy drink that supposedly stimulates brain functions. Alas, drinking a sugary drink an hour before an exam is pure stupidity, because sugar is absorbed very quickly, and the brain is in reactive hypoglycemia at a time when all its abilities are needed. It is better to choose complex glucides (in particular bread) so that the blood glucose level is at an optimal level.


The child's brain begins to actively develop even during its prenatal development. About 70% of the entire brain frame is formed before the birth of the baby, and only the remaining 30% after. The first year of life is the time of the most peak changes. Never again will a person experience as many changes as during the first 12 months of life. The child's brain also undergoes great changes.

Brain tissue is laid at the very beginning of pregnancy, in its first weeks. This is the period of the birth of neurons - nerve cells that carry out the transmission of signals. Already after the second month of development inside the womb, differentiation and division of the brain into functional parts begins to occur. By the end of pregnancy, the cerebral cortex is formed, which, in terms of its level of development and functionality, can be compared with the adult cortex.

Forming, the child's brain goes through several stages:

  • intrauterine;
  • Infant, which has two subgroups. The first of which corresponds to the age of 1-8 weeks and is marked by the formation of visualization functions. Its violation leads to poor development of neurons;
  • Childhood years;
  • Youth.

Each of the stages is unique. On any of them, the brain undergoes great changes. So childhood requires a particularly reverent and careful attitude towards the child in view of the fact that Negative influence can cause problems with the development of the baby's brain.

Formed, the brain goes through strictly defined stages. Initially, all nervous system represented only by a plate, which, step by step, becomes a tube. This tube gives rise to cerebral vesicles. At the beginning, 2 of them are formed, but gradually the number reaches 5. Each bubble is a prototype of important adult brain structures. One way or another, the brain stem develops first, passing into the spinal cord, and the last transformations concern the cerebral cortex.

The formation of each of the bubbles is a crucial moment during pregnancy. Indeed, in the future, it is the prototypes of these bubbles that will be responsible for all vital functions. human body. The bubble that gives rise to the brain stem is responsible for the regulation of temperature and blood pressure, the respiratory system. Above it is the midbrain, which controls sleep and appetite, as well as physical activity.

Behind the brainstem is the cerebellum, which is responsible for balance and coordination, as well as speed of thought. And the central part - the limbic system, is responsible for memory and the ability to adapt, emotional experiences. The cortex is the most evolutionarily developed part of the brain, covers it from above. It does not exceed 5 mm in thickness and regulates the decision-making process, thinking and speech. It is in the cortex that most of the neurons are concentrated - about 80% of their total number.

Formation of a neural network of a child's brain

In view of the fact that a child is born with a practically formed brain, the period of his growing up is associated only with the improvement of the initial capabilities. Literally every minute new connections between neurons are created in the brain. Like bridges, they are laid between nerve cells, which leads to mastering new skills, gaining knowledge, assimilation of information. The connection between them is especially strongly strengthened during the first 3 years of life. As a result, at the age of 3 years, children have a slightly smaller brain than an adult. So, they differ in mass by only 15%.

Initially, the child is gifted with a huge supply of neurons. Their number exceeds about 20 times the total population of the globe. There are 10 times more neurons in the human brain than there are stars in milky way. They are nothing more than the core of the brain. The connections of neurons with each other are so diverse and many-sided that each of them is able to communicate with 15,000 of its own kind. It is these connections that determine the base of a person’s thoughts, his mind, consciousness and memories. So, a three-year-old baby has about 1,000 trillion neural connections.

After a child reaches the age of 3 years, the rate of development of his brain slows down. Its physiological formation ends by the age of 6 years. That is why the age of 6-7 years is the starting point for the school. The child becomes physiologically capable of assimilation of information, adequate mental activity similar to an adult.

The influence of the environment on the development of the child's brain

However, the stable development of the brain requires the creation of certain conditions. The environment, filled with positive emotions and tranquility, is conducive to timely and harmonious development. Under such conditions, it will be easier for the child to stimulate and activate the processes of development of the brain tissue. The first years of a baby's life serve as a springboard for the emergence of a future base of adaptability to life, the formation of various skills.

The task of parents is not only to take care of the physical condition of the child, but also to provide assistance in the formation of a harmonious brain activity baby. Favorable are stimulations with the help of various sounds and images, smells and touches. According to a 2008 study by the scientific community, factors that negatively affect the development of a baby's brain include:

  • The level of education of the mother of the child is below average;
  • Incomplete composition of the family in which one of the parents died or a divorce occurred between them;
  • Mental problems in one of the parents or close relatives;
  • Low family standard of living, poverty and indigence, lack of Money for essentials;
  • Cruelty or indifference on the part of adults towards children.

If the development of a child is associated with one or more of the listed factors, the formation of his brain undergoes some deformations and may lag behind. If a child is in living conditions that combine all factors, his brain develops 50-70% lower than that of his peers. The difference between a child developing in normal conditions and the baby, whose childhood is burdened with negative factors, is reflected in his ability to verbally express his thoughts.

These children usually have a very poor vocabulary. Often, the asocial lifestyle of parents leads to the fact that the baby lags behind in mental development. Rarely, already at the age of 3 years, the child is able to understand what is surrounding him. home furnishings abnormal. Such kids tend to fill the lack of necessary development by communicating with peers in kindergarten or on the street.

An important role in the formation of the baby's brain and his psyche during pregnancy and breastfeeding child playing proper nutrition and lifestyle of the mother. Therefore, it is so important for a mother to eat healthy and well-known foods rich in proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. It is necessary to adhere to a strict diet suggested by the doctor so that the mother's nutrition does not adversely affect the child.

Lifestyle has a particularly strong influence on the formation of a child's brain tissue. Bad habits, such as drinking alcohol and smoking, negatively affect the baby's developing brain. Its cells experience oppression, as a result of which they develop inadequately. Such children often lag behind in mental development and have anomalies.

Facts about baby brain development

Summarizing the above, we can cite a few interesting facts about the development of the child's brain:

  • In the first year of life, the brain of children increases its size by about 2 times and reaches a weight of about 1 kg, while an adult brain weighs about one and a half kilograms;
  • The weight of the brain grows due to the formation and strengthening of connections between neurons. And new connections are formed at the moment of receiving new experience by the child. Moreover, it is important that this experience is fixed, and the child repeats it again;
  • The brain of a newborn baby has about 150-200 billion neurons, and the brain of an adult can boast of an amount that is about 2 times less. These neurons either combine into connections or die due to uselessness;
  • The newborn has a more developed amygdala, which is responsible for emotions, compared to his frontal lobe, which deals with reasoning. Because of this, babies are only able to show their emotions, but not control them. It is this fact that suggests that children often react to situations with tears and screams. It also explains why it is important to first develop emotional sphere the child and the senses, and only then engage in the development of his intellectual capabilities;
  • During the first 6 months of life, the most active formation of new connections between neurons occurs. Most of all, this affects color perception, the primary skills of early socialization, as well as the sense of smell;
  • The strongest are the neural connections of both hemispheres. And crawling is the best way to synchronize both hemispheres. As the child grows older, such means can be playing musical instruments, as well as swimming;
  • The mass of the cerebellum of a newborn baby is about 21-23 grams. This part of the brain grows intensively between 5 and 11 months of age, at a time when the baby is just learning to sit and walk. So, in a year the cerebellum of a child is about 85-95 grams, and at 15 years old it reaches about 150;
  • Class physical activity increases speed chemical reactions in the hippocampus, as well as the number of nerve cells, which allows you to master cognitive skills;
  • The most fruitful in terms of brain development of a child are the first three years of his life. After all, it is during this period that children easily learn their native language. Later training is less effective, so the pace of assimilation of new material reduces momentum. But this does not mean that up to 3 years it is only necessary to develop the abilities of the baby. Throughout his growing up, this is a necessary condition for the full formation of the brain;
  • The moment of conversation, with a baby who is not yet able to speak, lays his foundation for language proficiency.

The modern world, full of statistics, techniques aimed at improving and improving, allows you to make best plan for the development of your child. One has only to listen to the doctors, take an interest in additional literature, and the development of the baby's brain will no longer be such a difficult task. It should be remembered that the genome laid down at conception does not completely determine the development of the brain. Stimulate your child, get interested in everything new, create conditions for a normal life, and, of course, do not forget to let him be a child and enjoy childhood.

Loading...Loading...