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Two Miracles Together The Brain And Faith Development by Shirley K. Morgenthaler and Nancy A. Lass
Although information about the workings of the brain has been available to scientists for several decades, it is only in the past decade that this information has become available to the general public. The resultant interest in the implications of that information has been dramatic. That interest has even spawned new concerns regarding the appropriate and optimal nurture of infants and young children.
Brain Development Basics
The development of the brain is a process which has received considerable attention in recent years. The advent of medical technology which allows non-invasive study of the brain has made documentation of theory possible. Today’s easy access to numerous media makes information regarding the basics of brain development available to anyone interested in the topic, from sophisticated scientist to naive layperson (Kotulak, 1995).
Brain development begins within the second week after a child is conceived in the womb. The developing infant forms nerve cells during the first trimester, the same time all other organs are being formed. Nerve cells begin by creating a "scaffolding" of the nervous system and then as new brain cells form, they migrate to their respective place in the brain. Each cell has a specific function to perform and travels through the "scaffold" to its place much like driving on a highway when moving to a new home. The complexity of the brain dictates that brain development continues longer than that of most other systems and organs of the body.
The brain begins as a neural tube which elongates and forms into sections that later form into major divisions— the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem and spinal cord. The brain stem governs autonomic systems such as breathing and heartbeat and forms early in development. Autonomic systems take care of the body without constant awareness B they are automatic. The cerebellum is composed of two hemispheres and is primarily involved with balance and kinesthesia. The spinal cord carries nerve fibers to and from the brain to the rest of the body, helps to coordinate voluntary movements and is involved in reflex responses.The cerebrum develops from specialized sections of the neural tube.It’s two hemispheres form the most complex portion of the brain and take the longest to develop. This area governs the thinking functions of the brain (such as language, memory, hearing, sight, logic, numeracy, etc.) as well as motor and sensory activity.
By the age of three months gestation, the brain of the fetus already has considerable complexity (Kotulak, 1996). The brain stem is formed and functioning. The cerebrum is forming and has begun to function. Most brain cells are formed by the first three months and are moving into place. Once migrated, brain cells develop many dendrites (branches of "antennae") that receive messages from other brain cells. They also develop axons (a long "leg" with a "foot" of little branches) which transmit a message to another cell in the form of an electrical impulse. A brain cell’s axon transmits it’s message to another cell’s dendrite by releasing a chemical or neurotransmitter. The neurotransmitter is actually released into a space between the axon and dendrite, called a synapse. In this way, the brain cells "talk" to each other and process their "conversation." Cells that have migrated to the auditory and memory sites of the cerebrum are beginning to function and interact. This means that hearing and memory are already positive six months be/ore the infant is born.
At birth, normal infants have a similar number of cell-to-cell connections to an adult. However, there is a dramatic increase in the first several months as the infant processes information from the world around them. The growth in number of connections is most active in the first four years of life and continues for a lifetime. Transmission time of nerve cell impulses after birth is increased as the axons develop sheaths of myelin, a phospholipid that serves as an insulator and enhances the speed of transmission.The Power of the Brain's Development Over its lifetime, the brain performs an amazing number of functions, controlling everything that the rest of the body does, both physically and mentally. These functions are no accident. They are programmed into the brain by its Creator. The brain is at once the most powerful and the most mysterious part of the body. Some of the most amazing functions of the brain happen right within itself. The work of the cells in finding their place, getting there, and functioning appropriately is remarkable.
Several million brain cells are formed, all of them in the first four years of life. The adult brain has 100 billion cells, the same number as that of a six-month fetus. The four-year-old brain, however, has 400 billion cells. This is known as planned duplication on the amount needed by that brain. And the amount needed is governed by the amount of stimulation that brain receives during those early years and beyond (Morgenthaler, 1998).
Each cell has an assigned location and migrates there after its formation. While migrating, a cell begins to develop the exact configuration needed for its ultimate function including dendrite and axon growth, which then continues when the cell reaches its destination.
Different brain cells have different functions. Some cells are sight cells and are located in the visual cortex of the cerebrum’s occipital lobe. Some cells are memory cells and are located in the memory section or temporal lobe and other memory cells are located in specialized sections such as the auditory cortex. Some cells are those which control the movements of the hands and fingers and are located in the motor control section of the parietal cortex and also the cerebellum.
Within each area of the brain, the cells have further differentiation by layers. Some form the outer layer of the brain section. Others form the inner and supportive layers of their respective sections. ‘This cell differentiation is complex, dependent on migration to the correct location and critical to the optimal functioning of the brain. Cells migrating to the incorrect layer of the cerebellum, for example, may result in a waddle-like gait.
Brain development is no accident. It is a part of God's amazing creation. The brain is probably the most complex organ of the body, and takes the greatest length of time fully form. As a result, it is also the organ of the body to which small nuances of development matter most. And it is the area of the body for which the least medical remedies are available. In fact, it is nurture that makes the greatest difference to the development of the brain after the birth of a child (Morgenthaler, in press).Key Ingredients for Optimal Brain Development Ingredients for Optimal Brain Development
Brain development is a function of biology - nature - and of relationships - nurture. Nature is inborn, created by God. Nurture, on the other hand, is provided by those to whom the development of the child is entrusted, primarily the parents.
The work of researchers such as Perry, Pollard, Blakeley, Baker, and Vigilante (1995) has begun to identify the ingredients of relationships and nurture. These key ingredients can most dramatically be identified in their absence. Security
A sense of security allows the individual to relax and to use energy for appropriate brain nourishment and development. Energy taken in through food can be routed to the brain for the development of dendrites, axons, and myelin.
The lack of a sense of security, on the other hand, puts the child's whole system "on alert". That alert is needed because the child is providing security for himself or herself rather than having it provided by his or her caregivers. The energy which should be available for nourishment of the brain and its development is instead routed to the constant state of alert which the child feels he or she must maintain.
Reliability
The continuing experiencing of reliability is another key ingredient in optimal brain development. The child = s experience of reliable care, as with security, allows the optimal amount of energy to be devoted to brain nourishment and development.
The experience of unreliable care, on the other hand, reroutes the energy needed for brain development. Unreliable care shuts down a sense of interest and curiosity, both of which are needed for optimal brain development. If the child's interest and curiosity are diminished, the child does not route energy to the development of synapses. Since the development of synapses is critical for brain cells to be able to communicate with one another, the potential loss of synapses is a serious concern. If the child's interest shuts down because of the lack of reliability in his or her life, the brain simply will not develop at the pace or the complexity which God designed for its development. Predictability
The young child also needs a predictable environment for optimal brain development. Predictability builds the sense of regularity and structure the brain needs for optimal growth.
An unpredictable environment, on the other hand, does not provide the regularity and structure the young child needs for optimal brain development. Unpredictability is confusing to the infant and toddler. If cries of hunger or pain are met one hour or one day but ignored the next, the child=s reaction is confusion and bewilderment. If the cues the child is learning to give B indeed is created to give B are ignored, the child becomes baffled. There is no point in communicating pain or hunger or discomfort if the reaction to that communication is not predictable. Why cry if you're not sure that someone will respond?
If the child's communication of needs shuts down, the brain begins to shut down to match. This, again is detrimental to brain development and growth. Synapse development will not occur if the child's appetite for communication is diminished.
Brain Development and the Faith
By now you can see that there are several areas of overlap between the optimal development of the brain and the optimal development of the faith. Those overlaps are no accident. God engineered it that way. The very factors that support healthy brain development also support the developing child's understanding of his or her relationship with God. Brain development and faith development are two overlapping miracles.
Just as a sense of security is important for brain development, it is also an important foundational experience and concept for faith development. Just as the experience of reliable care - reliability - is key for the child' s optimal brain growth, it is also key to the child' s developing concepts about the faith and about God, the author of that faith. Just as predictability in responsive care giving is critical, it is also crucial for the child's development of faith concepts.
God 's provision of caregivers who provide the young child with security, reliability, and predictability is a part of his plan. That care is important for the child's ongoing brain development. It is also crucial for the formation of appropriate concepts about faith and about God, the author of that faith. A healthy brain and a healthy faith are related!
Implications/or Teaching and Guiding Young Children into the Faith
The young child's parents are not the only caregivers who need to be concerned about the child's optimal brain development. This aspect of development is enhanced or hindered in all of the care giving contacts and contexts of the infant, toddler, or preschooler. The out-of-home care giving environment needs to be just as secure, reliable, and predictable as the care given at home.
The key concern for the young child is consistency. There must be a positive relationship between the care at home and the care at a center or child care home. This means that parents and other caregivers need to communicate often and well in order to provide the connections between their differing care settings.
For both centers and child care homes, security, reliability, and predictability are an ongoing challenge. This means that for the infant, especially, the number of caregivers needs to be
limited. This is a staffing challenge in every center, but a challenge which must be met. But even for toddlers and preschoolers, the consistency of care and caregivers is crucial. Children simply do not have energy left for learning and brain development if all - or even some - of their energy is devoted to providing their own security, reliability, and predictability.
Children thrive on secure, reliable, and consistent care. That kind of care not only supports good brain development, but also under girds the child' s emerging concepts about the faith with which God has gifted him or her.
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