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Published on: August 18, 2014
Neurobiological bases of behavioral development in the first year
N Herschkowitz1, J Kagan, K Zilles
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Berne, Switzerland.
Neuropediatrics
|February 7, 1998
Summary
Early infant development links psychological milestones with brain changes. For example, reduced reflexes by 2-3 months correlate with cortical inhibition, while 7-10 month memory advances align with brain structure maturation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Infant Psychology
- Neurobiology
Background:
- The first year of human infant development involves significant psychological milestones and concurrent neurobiological changes.
- Understanding these temporal relationships is crucial for investigating brain-behavior development.
- Evidence from non-human primates supplements human infant studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the temporal correlations between infant psychological milestones and developmental neurobiological brain changes.
- To explore connections between early behaviors and underlying brain maturation.
- To provide a basis for investigating causal relationships in brain development and behavior.
Main Methods:
- Literature review summarizing temporal relations between psychological milestones and neurobiological changes.
- Integration of evidence from human infant studies and non-human primate research.
- Focus on specific age ranges (2-3 months and 7-10 months) for detailed analysis.
Main Results:
- At 2-3 months, disappearance of palmar grasp reflex and reduced smiling/crying correlate with cortical inhibition of brainstem circuits.
- Improved recognition memory at 2-3 months is linked to hippocampal growth.
- By 7-10 months, enhanced working memory and stranger/separation anxiety correlate with prefrontal and rhinal cortex maturation, limbic system integration, and HPA axis responsiveness.
Conclusions:
- Age-dependent correlations between brain and behavioral maturation are established in the first year.
- These correlations provide a foundation for exploring causal links between neurodevelopment and behavior.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration among pediatricians, psychologists, and neuroscientists is essential for advancing this field.
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