Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the brain to change itself through adding and deleting neural connections. In infancy, neural connections proliferate with experience, then pruning occurs to make the connections more efficient; i.e. only the ones which are used are kept.
The video below illustrates a visual model for neuroplastic change; slime mould reconfigures over time to the most efficient route to deliver nutrients mirroring the process of synaptic formation and neural pruning. This video is provided courtesy of Andrea Rossi and Lila Panahi Kazem.
Key Point
Some important points regarding neuroplasticity in infants are:
- Neuroplasticity occurs throughout life, not only in childhood. However, plasticity decreases as we age.
- Some areas of the brain are less plastic than others and are therefore more vulnerable to lack of experience. One example is the visual cortex. Animal studies have shown if vision is occluded at critical periods, the connections with the visual cortex will fail to develop and the animal will not be able to see. [1]
- This research has informed practice (for example) in cataract surgery for young children, which is now performed as soon as possible to avoid impact on the development of the visual cortex.
- Many of the fundamental interaction, cognitive, motor, and self-regulatory skills are learned in first 6 months of life and our opportunities to influence development and efficiency/ variety in the first six months are greatest. [2,3,4]
- Research has shown that the infant’s experiences in the first 6 months can influence structural changes in the brain. [2,3,4]
- Repetition is important to effect change but the activity must occur in an enriched environment, be meaningful and provide the right level of challenge. [5,6]
