How to Measure Early Brain Development in Babies ?

Childhood is a time of tremendous development in a child’s life. This period also marks a remarkable development of the child’s brain, thus, allowing him/her to learn, grow and even adapt to the changes of the surroundings. The young brain changes in shape and size, in response to everything they encounter from their new environment, such as life experiences, their relationships and so on.

Brain Development

A human brain consists of millions of brain cells, called neurons. An adult brain consists of 100 billions of them, a child is born with even more. A baby’s brain contains a lot more cells and circuits that they will eventually need. Starting from before birth and during the first year of a baby’s life, these overproduced brain cells rapidly develop trillions of connections (synapses) among themselves. This network of synaptic connections will ultimately determine how a child thinks and acts.

Early Brain Development in Child

Not all of the neurons and synapses will remain as a child grows. Life experience will activate certain neurons, create new connections among them and strengthen existing connections (myelination). Unused connections will eventually be eliminated (synaptic pruning). Building massive connections, creating and strengthening them through life experiences and pruning unused ones is a remarkable characteristic of the human brain. This process allows babies to adapt flexibly to any enviro