How Does a Child's Brain Develop? | Susan Y. Bookheimer PhD | UCLAMDChat

Summary

Dr. Susan Bookheimer's webinar at UCLA Health delves into the intricate process of a child's brain development, emphasizing the formation of connections over size. She discusses the critical periods of neuron pruning, the importance of environmental exposure, and the stages of dendritic branching, myelination, and pruning. The talk also touches on the adolescent brain's sensitivity, the impact of environmental factors like prenatal alcohol exposure, and ongoing studies at UCLA to further understand brain connectivity and its relation to behavior and cognitive abilities.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Brain development is about forming connections, not just increasing in size. The human connectome is a network of these connections.
• 🌱 There are critical periods in early childhood and adolescence where the brain undergoes significant changes, including the pruning of unused neurons.
• 📈 The environment plays a crucial role in brain development, influencing which connections are maintained and which are pruned away.
• 👶 From 25 days fetal age to birth, the brain develops rapidly, with an increase in surface area due to the formation of folds, accommodating more neurons.
• 🌿 Three major changes occur in brain development: dendritic branching, myelination (insulation of axons), and pruning of unnecessary connections.
• 🔍 Myelination is essential for fast information processing, as the myelin sheath acts like insulation, speeding up the transmission of electrical signals.
• 📉 The brain transitions from plasticity, with many potential connections, to efficiency, maintaining only the most used connections for optimal performance.
• 📚 The adolescent brain is particularly sensitive to new experiences and rewards, which can lead to impulsivity and difficulty in emotional regulation.
• 🧩 Different parts of the brain form distinct functional networks that work together to perform complex tasks, such as language and sensory processing.
• 🧬 Functional MRI (fMRI) is a safe method for studying brain networks in children, allowing researchers to observe changes in brain activity during tasks and at rest.
• 🔬 Research at UCLA is investigating the development of the human connectome, the effects of environmental exposures, and the impact of experiences on brain connectivity.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Dr. Susan Bookheimer's webinar?

The main focus of Dr. Susan Bookheimer's webinar is on how a child's brain develops, including the formation of connections known as the human connectome, the adolescent brain's development, and the impact of various factors on brain connectivity.

Why is the concept of 'use it or lose it' relevant to brain development?

'Use it or lose it' is relevant to brain development because the brain forms connections based on usage; the connections that are used are maintained, while those that are not are pruned away, similar to cutting off an old, useless branch.

What is the significance of the folds in the brain?

The folds in the brain are significant because they increase the surface area, allowing for more neurons to be packed into the tissue, which in turn enables the brain to perform complex tasks more efficiently.

What are the three major changes that occur during brain development?

The three major changes during brain development are the proliferation of dendritic branches, the process of myelination which insulates axons for faster information processing, and the pruning of unnecessary brain cells and connections.

How does myelination contribute to the efficiency of brain communication?

Myelination contributes to the efficiency of brain communication by providing a fatty substance that acts as insulation around axons, allowing electrical signals to move quickly from one brain cell to the next, similar to a speedway for connection.

What is the difference between brain plasticity and brain efficiency in the context of brain development?

Brain plasticity refers to the potential for the brain to perform a wide range of functions, while brain efficiency refers to the optimization of connections for energy conservation, maintaining only those connections necessary for effective functioning.

How does the adolescent brain differ in terms of connectivity compared to a child's brain?

The adolescent brain undergoes significant changes with an influx of hormones, making it highly sensitive to new experiences and reward-driven, especially towards social experiences. However, the area responsible for regulating emotions and impulses matures later, leading to impulsivity and emotional arousal without immediate regulatory control.

What is the significance of the corpus callosum in brain connectivity?

The corpus callosum is significant in brain connectivity as it is a bundle of fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, facilitating rapid communication and integration of information between the two sides.

How can functional MRI (fMRI) be used to study brain development?

Functional MRI (fMRI) can be used to study brain development by measuring blood flow in the brain during task performance and at rest, allowing researchers to observe the formation and changes in functional brain networks over time.

What are some of the environmental factors that can impact brain development?

Environmental factors such as prenatal exposure to alcohol, toxins, and drugs can have profound effects on brain development, leading to abnormalities in connectivity and structure.

How does the webinar address the potential impact of modern technology like video games and social media on brain development?

The webinar suggests that there is much to learn about how modern technology, such as video games and social media, affects brain development, and it is an area of ongoing research to understand the implications of these exposures on the developing brain.