1. The Developing Brain
Significant changes occur all through development but especially during the first 2 years
Development tends to be from back to from and from lower to upper

2. Brain Development: The Brainstem

3. The Limbic System

4. The Cerebral Cortex

5. What Develops: Major areas of the brain
Neuronal Growth and Myelinization

6. Brain Maturation
Beginning around 2 months there is a significant increase in dendritic branching
This increase continues all through development in different parts of the brain

7. CNS Development
There is an overproduction of dendrites and axons which results in in subsequent elimination or “pruning”

8. Human Brain at Birth
14 Years Old
6 Years Old 9

9. CNS Development
There is an overproduction of dendrites and axons which results in in subsequent elimination or “pruning”
Why is there an excess?
What connections get pruned or eliminated?

12. CNS Development
In order for pruning to occur, child only has to be in a relatively normal environment
Small differences among normal environments will not affect pruning
For example, parents reading books
These more subtle environmental differences affect the chemistry of the brain not its basic structure

13. Brain Maturation