{"id":8,"date":"2011-09-14T12:29:39","date_gmt":"2011-09-14T18:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/bd-placeholder\/experience-based-brain-development\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T16:14:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T16:14:48","slug":"experience-based-brain-development","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/experience-based-brain-development\/","title":{"rendered":"BD 1.2 Experience-based brain development"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2023\/12\/iStock-487054254-200x300-2.png\" alt=\"Young child held by father.\" class=\"wp-image-13487\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.6666666666666666;object-fit:cover;width:203px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Experiences obtained early in life turn on genetic pathways that discern neuron function as well as establishes neural pathways. Experiences also affect the formation of synapses (connections) among neurons. Experience-based brain development is the concept that experience shapes the way the brain and other biological systems develop. We have known for a long time that physical experiences such as nutrition are important for early brain development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We now understand that other aspects of experiences and the environment such as social interactions (e.g., warm and responsive interaction between caregivers and children) and&nbsp;early adversity, are also profoundly important and have long-lasting effects on brain, behaviour and health.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-interact-Z1q5VgI wp-block-lazyblock-interact\"><div class=\"interact-link context-container\">\n  <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/hscsr.rrc.ca\/secd\/interactions\/slideShow-EY-EBBD\/slidePlayer-EBBD.html\" class=\"tap-container interact\">\n    <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"tap-content\">\n      <span class=\"tap-label\">INTERACT<\/span>\n      <span class=\"tap-description\">Experience-based brain development<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next video, Dr. Joel Levine,&nbsp;professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto, explains the term&nbsp;<em>experience-based brain development<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-5GXdS wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Levine &#8211; experience-based brain development (0:41)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90195366?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-levine-experience-based-brain-development\/\" target=\"_blank\">Levine &#8211; experience-based brain development &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Rob Santos, a psychologist and research chair of the Early Childhood Development Research Team at Red River College Polytechnic,&nbsp;discusses early brain development and experience.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-WTg7G wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Santos &#8211; experience (2:32)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/87877914?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-santos-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\">Santos &#8211; experience &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-24AAr4 wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Santos discusses the importance of supporting pregnant people. In what ways could providing support to a pregnant person influence brain development of the fetus?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Santos also says that that the social environment of the child is very important to early brain development. What do you see as a supportive social environment for a young child?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two distinct ways that experiences impact brain development: experience-expectant and experience-dependent processes. Listen now as Dr. Maureen Black, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland, describes these two processes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-ZuUnrf wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Black \u2013 experience and brain development (1:45)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/300603034?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-black-experience-and-brain-development\/\" target=\"_blank\">Black \u2013 experience and brain development &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Experience-expectant brain development<\/th><th>Experience-dependent brain development<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Early in life, when synapses are being overproduced and then pruned, the brain is &#8220;expecting&#8221; certain specific experiences that are required for brain functions to develop optimally.<\/td><td>Throughout life, an individual&#8217;s positive and negative circumstances and experiences affect brain development and functioning. How the brain develops &#8220;depends&#8221; on one&#8217;s experiences.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Example<\/strong>: the brain&#8217;s auditory cortex expects to be able to hear sounds and then responds to those sounds and develop accordingly.<\/td><td><strong>Example<\/strong>: typically, as a child hears a particular language early in life, that child will come to understand and speak that language.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"background-color: #f9f9f9\">It is clear<\/span> that brain development does not happen independent from one&#8217;s environment. Listen as the late Sir Michael Rutter, formerly of&nbsp;King&#8217;s College London, reviews different ways that environments and experiences influence brain development and adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z3GHi0 wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Rutter &#8211; environment (2:52)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/87877492?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-rutter-environment\/\" target=\"_blank\">Rutter &#8211; environment &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-ZtX5IP wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rutter refers to Hubel and Wiesel&#8217;s studies of visual cortex development. Would this be categorized as an experience-expectant or experience-dependent process?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What about the example of early life language discrimination &#8211; is that an experience-expectant or -dependent process?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Charles Nelson of Harvard University describes how facial recognition is an example of experience driving brain development in infancy.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-2oElXb wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Nelson &#8211; face recognition (3:17)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90184844?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-nelson-face-recognition\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nelson &#8211; face recognition &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-further-full-1ewKVN wp-block-lazyblock-further-full\"><div class=\"further-full\">\n<div class=\"wtkm\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of what is known about how people recognize faces comes from patients who have suffered a brain injury that results in&nbsp;Prosopagnosia, which is the inability to recognize others by their faces alone. The next reading explains this syndrome and the neural mechanisms of facial processing.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-M0xXd wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/read-facial-recognition-and-prosopagnosia\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ <\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Fusiform face area (FFA) and Prosopagnosia<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nature and nurture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What if experiences of joy, sorrow, love, fear and loneliness leave an imprint on the cells and nerves in an infant&#8217;s body? What if our early social interactions affect the way our genes express themselves? Why is an emotionally nurturing environment as important to physical development as good nutrition? A mounting body of evidence suggests that a child&#8217;s first experiences in the world play a much larger role than anyone thought in their physical health and development. This evidence changes everything about the discussions of nature versus nurture&#8221; (Barr, 2006, p.1).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"634\" height=\"698\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2024\/01\/iStock-187482690-compressed.jpg\" alt=\"A young child sits in front of an older sibling in the grass.\" class=\"wp-image-13525\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.9083094555873925;object-fit:cover;width:250px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2024\/01\/iStock-187482690-compressed.jpg 634w, https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2024\/01\/iStock-187482690-compressed-272x300.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every child is unique; even two children of the same biological parents with seemingly very similar upbringings can be very different from one another both genetically and with regards to their environmental experiences. For example, children may differ in their sex and\/or birth order (such as a first-born child who only has the experience of having younger siblings, compared to a middle child who has both older and younger siblings). They may also differ in their temperaments and physical appearances; all these contribute to how the environment may respond to them or how they may respond to their environment. To answer how this is so, people have debated the importance of nature vs. nurture for years. Nature refers to our genetic make-up; nurture refers to environments and experiences. Are genetic or environmental factors more important in determining child outcomes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Marla Sokolowski, of the University of Toronto, explains that&nbsp;the phrase <em>nature&nbsp;<strong>versus<\/strong> nurture<\/em> is no longer applicable to scientists&#8217; understanding of how human beings develop.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z1Q9p6D wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Sokolowski &#8211; nature vs. nurture controversy (1:52)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90200673?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-sokolowski-nature-vs-nurture-controversy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sokolowski &#8211; nature vs. nurture controversy &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next video Dr. Thomas Boyce,&nbsp;pediatrician and distinguished professor emeritus in the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of California, explains the idea of nurture working <strong>through<\/strong> nature to lead to healthy or unhealthy outcomes. He suggests we can separate nature from nurture about as usefully as we can separate rhythm from melody in describing a song. He maintains that each is essential. As it is the details of how they work together that matters, he proposes the whimsical term &#8220;symphonic causation&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-ZkGmA9 wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Boyce &#8211; symphonic causation (1:34)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90189701?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-boyce-symphonic-causation\/\" target=\"_blank\">Boyce &#8211; symphonic causation &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following activity will give you a chance to explore information related to Boyce&#8217;s concept of symphonic causation. Each time you find two matching pictures, an interesting fact will appear.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-interact-Z2bh8tt wp-block-lazyblock-interact\"><div class=\"interact-link context-container\">\n  <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/hscsr.rrc.ca\/secd\/interactions\/symphonicCausationMatching\/symphonicCausationMatchingGame.html\" class=\"tap-container interact\">\n    <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"tap-content\">\n      <span class=\"tap-label\">INTERACT<\/span>\n      <span class=\"tap-description\">Symphonic causation matching game<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-key-full-2tsMMv wp-block-lazyblock-key-full\"><div class=\"key-full\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A child may have a genetic predisposition to burn when exposed to the sun. However, if that child lives in a climate with little sun exposure or always wears sunscreen and protective clothing, they likely will never sunburn. This may then offer protection against skin cancer later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children may be genetically predisposed to be tall in adulthood. However, without proper nutrition through infancy and childhood, they may not reach their full growth potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Identical twins who share the same genes develop differently due to dissimilar experiences. These experiences in turn result in different gene expressions.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a name=\"sensitiveperiods\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sensitive periods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this KidCareCanada video, Dr. Boyce starts by saying it is important to &#8220;&#8230;hold, talk to and touch babies&#8230;&#8221; As he relates this to brain architecture, he introduces the concepts of critical and sensitive periods.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-1K0upb wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yout-ube.com\/watch?v=d7WkIJKeusQ&amp;t=132s\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Early experiences last a lifetime<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/hscsr.rrc.ca\/secd\/interactions\/sensitivePeriods\/sensitivePeriods.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/ak-short\/files\/2015\/08\/sensitivePeriodsLinkImg-300x198.jpg\" alt=\"Click to view\" class=\"wp-image-8093\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Click to view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is important to understand the nature of sensitive periods, especially when considering how to support optimal development. A sensitive period is a time in neural circuit development where experience strongly influences how the circuit is constructed. As Boyce says above, these periods are like open windows when brains are very susceptible to the effects of experience. This slide illustrates this concept by showing how the formation of synapses for different neural pathways takes place at different times. For example, the sensitive period of development for vision (and when we see the highest amount of synapse formation) occurs before the sensitive period for peer social skill development. Click on the slide to have a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-consider-block-zMBBR wp-block-lazyblock-consider-block\"><div class=\"consider-full\">\n<p><strong>Consider&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\nNathalie and Catherine are both two-year-old cousins. Nathalie is growing up in a busy francophone (French-speaking) household in rural Quebec&#8230;<strong><span><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/consider-nathalie-and-catherine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a>&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-dUaE9 wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why do you think Nathalie can only make French language sounds at age two while Catherine is speaking in both languages?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How does this example illustrate experience-based brain development?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What, if anything, does the children\u2019s age have to do with it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you have any experience with learning multiple languages? At what age were you exposed to the language(s) in which you are fluent?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next clip, the late Dr. Clyde Hertzman, founding director of the Human Early Learning Program (HELP) at the University of British Columbia, discusses the overall effect that early childhood conditions have on healthy life course development. He adds to our understanding of sensitive periods in the developing brain by describing some of the basic competencies young children need to develop and the adult responses that facilitate children developing these competencies.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z2cJX7h wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Hertzman &#8211; healthy development (4:07)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90194089?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-hertzman-healthy-development\/\" target=\"_blank\">Hertzman &#8211; healthy development &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-1s76et wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hertzman describes that because of early brain sensitivity, early environments should be nurturing and rich in language stimulation. Do you think there is general awareness in society about this? If not, can you think of ways to get this message out?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the following clip, neuroscientist Dr. Bryan Kolb of the University of Lethbridge discusses brain development in the context of sensitive periods.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z43sre wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Kolb &#8211; sensitive periods (1:32)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/87875733?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-kolb-sensitive-periods\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kolb &#8211; sensitive periods &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Kolb says, in common usage, the terms sensitive period and critical period are sometimes used interchangeably, but there is a distinction between them. The next reading explains these two terms.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-read-G6sNu wp-block-lazyblock-read\"><div class=\"read context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/read-critical-and-sensitive-periods-of-development\/\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">READ<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Critical and sensitive periods of development<\/span><\/span>      \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brain plasticity is the brain&#8217;s capacity to change in response to experiences.&nbsp;The next video is from&nbsp;the documentary, <em>The Beginning of Life<\/em>.&nbsp; It explains that the plasticity of the&nbsp;developing brain brings opportunities and risks.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail-qrHEB wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"video-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2022\/06\/333135865.jpg\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">The Beginning of Life \u2013 Neuroplasticity (2:41)<\/span>      \n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\"><iframe frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/333135865?api=1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next clip, Kolb explains why brain plasticity and synaptic development decrease with age.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-ZPe9Yz wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Kolb &#8211; brain plasticity (2:16)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/87875879?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-kolb-brain-plasticity\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kolb &#8211; brain plasticity &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Kolb says, early brain development is for the long term. The brain&#8217;s architecture and the child&#8217;s skills are built from the bottom up. Each stage of brain development rests on another. Neural circuits that process basic information, such as sights, sounds and touch, or govern basic functions, such as breathing, are wired before those that process more complex information. Neural pathways for reading or solving abstract problems build on earlier pathways for vision, hearing or touch, just as children&#8217;s skills build on earlier skills. Neural pathways may adapt and change over time, but their basic early structure stays with us for life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next clip shows seven-month-old Lucy being fed cereal by her mother.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail-ZzyaoE wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"video-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2022\/06\/90180359.jpg\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Breakfast time (1:38)<\/span>      \n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\"><iframe frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90180359?api=1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-DMkxL wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How does Lucy&#8217;s mother show she understands Lucy&#8217;s social signals? How does Lucy communicate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What sensory pathways do you think are being stimulated? Check the slide above on sensitive periods. In what areas is Lucy especially ready to learn?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The evidence is clear that early child development is a period of opportunity to establish a sturdy neural foundation for later development. It is also a period of increased risk that can compromise development for life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use the flash cards below to review some key terms from this section before going to the next section in this module.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-interact-2jnik6 wp-block-lazyblock-interact\"><div class=\"interact-link context-container\">\n  <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/hscsr.rrc.ca\/secd\/interactions\/flashCards-BD1-2\/flashCards-BD1-2.html\" class=\"tap-container interact\">\n    <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"tap-content\">\n      <span class=\"tap-label\">INTERACT<\/span>\n      <span class=\"tap-description\">Flash Cards<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Experiences obtained early in life turn on genetic pathways that discern neuron function as well as establishes neural pathways. Experiences also affect the formation of synapses (connections) among neurons. Experience-based brain development is the concept that experience shapes the way the brain and other biological systems develop. We have known for a long time that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":15,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":200,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16402,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions\/16402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}