Early Infant Brain Development
The initial formation of the brain and its development in infancy both have profound effects on who we will become. These are the stages when the foundation is being laid for future learning and sociability, but the connections being made in the brain are mostly invisible to us.
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Formation
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During the 16th day of the embryonic stage, cells of the human body have already grouped into specialized layers. At this time, the outer layer of cells begins to develop into the nervous system when a rounded groove hollows out a part of the embryo's tissue. By the 21st day, the ends of the grooves meet and form a tube. The front part of this tube eventually becomes the brain, and the rest of it develops into the spine. Surrounding cells become the nervous system of the human body.
Division
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The brain in the unborn infant is divided into three sections: the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. These areas divide once more by the seventh week, eventually forming such areas as the neocortex in the forebrain and the medulla oblongata in the hindbrain. This process of division is called encephalization, and its significance is to divide the brain into its specialized functions. The neocortex, for instance, controls higher functions such as language and sensory perception. The medulla oblongota, on the other hand, controls autonomic (automatic) functions such as breathing and heart rate.
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Birth
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Before birth, neurons---specialized brain cells that transmit information electrically or chemically---develop at an incredible rate: up to 250,000 neurons every minute. When the infant is finally born, the baby has nearly every single neuron that it will need for the rest of its life, but the brain will continue to grow for years after.
Infancy
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Long after birth, glial cells---which are specialized cells that have the duty to support nerve cells and keep them apart---continue to divide and multiply as the infant develops. Neurons also make many new connections. Through experience and ability they form many of the important processes that happen within the brain, such as language development and social skills. Neuron development is highly adaptable, and during the first few years the infant should have marshaled a vocabulary of hundreds of words and an understanding of self and others.
Mental Foundation
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The brain of a 2-year-old is approximately 80 percent of the size of an adult brain, although the proportion of brain size to body size decreases. Even as the brain continues to grow toward its maximal size, the foundations for language, curiosity, intelligence and sociability are still being laid. These elements undergo their greatest periods of growth during the early infancy of a human life.
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