Brain Story – Brain Architecture
In our first ‘Sharing the Science’ topic, we’ll focus on understanding brain development by comparing a house’s construction to the construction of children’s brains.
![brainstorybanner2](https://americanspcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/brainstorybanner2.jpg)
EARLY EXPERIENCES BUILD THE FOUNDATION
Like a house is built step-by-step – first laying the foundations, then creating the rooms and wiring the electrical system – our brains are built in a similar way. Just as the quality of the materials is important in building a house, the quality of experiences during childhood is important to building children’s brains.
After all, it’s during childhood that positive experiences build the foundations of brain architecture.
![brain-foundation-good destressing tips - shaken baby syndrome prevention](https://americanspcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/brain-foundation-good.jpg)
Like improving or rebuilding the architecture of a house – refurbishing rooms, strengthening foundations – the brain can also be improved and rebuilt following childhood trauma through an active process of maintenance and care from supportive, trusted adults.
![bad-foundation-brain destressing tips - shaken baby syndrome prevention](https://americanspcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bad-foundation-brain.jpg)
Remember, brain architecture can be built throughout childhood, adolescence and even into adulthood (Shonkoff et al, 2008).
![brainstorylogo](https://americanspcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/brainstorylogo.jpg)
Get Brain Story certified!
The Brain Story Certification course is for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of brain development and its consequences for lifelong health. This self-paced online course is free and open to the public. The course is also designed for professionals seeking certification in a wide range of fields and includes 30 hours of instruction time.
References & Sources
- Center on the Developing Child (2013) Innovating in Early Head Start: Can Reducing Toxic Stress Improve Outcomes for Young Children? [Accessed 8/11/2019].
- Crowley, Kevin (2017) Child Development: a practical introduction. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
- Diamond, A (2013) Executive Functions Annual Review of Psychology, 64: 135-168.
- Franke H.A (2014) Toxic Stress: Effects, Prevention and Treatment. Children, 1(3): 390–402.
- Kendall-Taylor, N and Stanley, K (2018) Seeing Context through Metaphor: Using Communications Research to Bring a Social Determinants Perspective to Public Thinking about Child Abuse and Neglect. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(1): 8-14.
- National Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Multiple Disadvantage (2019) Breaking Down the Barriers (PDF). [s.l.]: National Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Multiple Disadvantage.
- Siegel, D. J. and Bryson, T. P. (2012) The Whole-Brain Child 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, Survive Everyday Parenting Struggles, and Help Your Family Thrive. London: Robinson.
- Shonkoff, J.P. et al (2004) Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships. Cambridge: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University.
- Shonkoff, J.P. et al (2008) The Timing and Quality of Early Experiences Combine to Shape Brain Architecture Working Paper 5. Cambridge: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University.
- Shonkoff, J.P., Boyce, W.T. and McEwen, B.S. (2009) Neuroscience, molecular biology, and the childhood roots of health disparities: building a new framework for health promotion and disease prevention, Journal of the American Medical Association, 301 (21), 2252-2259.
- Shonkoff, J.P. et al (2011) Building the Brain’s “Air Traffic Control” System: How Early Experiences Shape the Development of Executive Function Working Paper 11. Cambridge: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University.
- Shonkoff, J.P. et al (2014), Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain Working Paper 3. Cambridge: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University.
- Shonkoff, J.P. et al (2015) Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience Working Paper 13. Cambridge: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University.
- Shonkoff, J.P. et al (2018) Understanding Motivation: Building the Brain Architecture That Supports Learning, Health, and Community Participation Working Paper 14. Cambridge: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University.