Structural Brain Changes in Early Childhood
Here are some key developments in the structure of the brain during early childhood:
- A rapid increase in the number and size of nerve endings.
- Increased concentration of dopamine, the hormone and neurotransmitter associated with reward-oriented behaviour.
- Rapid development of the prefrontal cortex, the part of of the brain which plays an important role in emotional regulation.
- The brain is constantly reorganising. Rapid growth spurt periods occur in conjunction with 'synaptic pruning' when the brain eliminates connections between neurons [synapses] which are no longer being used. At the time of birth, a baby's brain consists of more than 100 billion neurons, while a fully-grown adult's brain generally has 15% less than that (Sakai, 2020).
- See this article for optional extra reading on the role synaptic pruning plays in development [and, perhaps, neurological disorders].
Check out this video for more on the basics:
How baby brains develop