Pre and Postnatal
Stimulation
Scientific Bases |
Development
of children: Neuroscientific Bases
Experiences of stimulation are based on knowledge
of the development of the nervous system, specifically the brain; the most complex organ
of the human being that gathers all the cultural and natural stimulation.
It is known that the cerebral tissue matures in a progressive way. This marvelous
process can be positively formed by an enrichment of the environment.
General
characteristics of the nervous system
The complexity of the nervous system interactions
and the elevated number of interconnections existing between the nerve cells have made
scientific researchers accept that its development depends on epigenetic factors that
activate and modulate the genetic information present in neuron cells during growing.
About 75% of the nervous system maturity is genetically programmed. The rest depends on
experiences, that is why providing an enriched environment, makes it possible to
promote a better bio-psychological-social development of kids between the ages of 0 and 6
years. During this stage it is possible to modify neurons structurally and functionally
depending on its use or disuse.
Structural and
functional unit of the nervous system
Neurons are the anatomic and functional unit of the nervous system. They are complex
cells composed by soma, axon and dendrites. Dendrites are the structures related with
reception and synapses.
The brain and
its interaction with the environment
It was first believed that the nervous system was relatively rigid and that it would
change just a little during the first stages of maturity. This concept now differs because
of the influence of two variables: age and use of the neurons.
Even though the functioning of the nervous system is not associated with the brain
exclusively, in order to have an adequate development, the brain should be intact. This is
the reason that all the efforts to increase intelligence should consider the brain
capacities.
All human beings are born with less than a third of brain adult capacity. After being
born, the cortex and all the central nervous systems are developed rapidly, as a
consequence of the environment and experiences.
When a human being is born, he brings a brain that has to grow and develop with a
potential capacity that will allow itself to establish the adequate mechanisms to receive
and manage stimuli in an advance way.
The intense interaction with the environment is a basic element that conditions the
development of the brain.
Experiences, training and symbolic material that the child receives through language
and education will allow transformation of the structure and cognoscitive organization.
This way, the quality of interaction of the children with their environment during the
first years of life will be definite for the subsequent intellectual development, as well
as the basic patterns of their personalities.
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