Neurological bases of behavioral development in infancy

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N Herschkowitz1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Bern, Pourtalèsstrasse 57, 3074 Muri, Bern, Switzerland. norbert.herschkowitz@pupk.unibe.ch

Brain & Development
|December 5, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Early childhood development involves key psychological milestones in the first two years, linked to significant brain changes. These include memory improvements, fear development, language acquisition, and self-awareness, all supported by evolving brain structures and connectivity.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Child development

Background:

  • The first two years of life are critical for psychological and brain development.
  • Understanding the interplay between cognitive milestones and neural changes is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline key psychological competences emerging in the first two years of life.
  • To correlate these behavioral changes with structural, biochemical, and physiological brain alterations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of developmental psychology literature.
  • Correlation analysis between behavioral events and neurobiological changes.
  • Focus on the first two years of postnatal development.

Main Results:

  • First year: loss of neonatal reflexes, improved memory, stranger/separation anxiety linked to cortical inhibition, prefrontal cortex/hippocampus maturation, and limbic system connections.
  • Second year: language explosion and self-awareness emerge, dependent on inference and linked to interhemispheric connectivity, prefrontal cortex, and cortical-subcortical network maturation.

Conclusions:

  • Psychological development in infancy is closely tied to specific, measurable brain maturation processes.
  • The brain's structural and functional changes provide the foundation for emerging cognitive and emotional abilities.

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