Understand how the child and adolescent brain works It can be a wonderful tool in raising and educating children. That is why we have spoken with the divulger Clara García Gorro, biochemist and Doctor in Neurosciencewhich just published Brains (Roca Editorial)in which he details what and what it entails neuroplasticity. In the interview, he explains to us how neuroplasticity favors the enormous learning capacity that we have in childhood. He also tells us the profound impact that the first years of life They have in all of us.
A child who feels cared for and loved will be more likely to take advantage of his or her cognitive abilities.
You warn, already in the preface, that your book does not give magic recipes, but in what way can habits improve children’s cognitive abilities?
Babies acquire language by absorbing what is happening around them.so a highly recommended habit is to talk and read to children from a young age. Beyond that, what children need most is love and security. Child psychologists often emphasize the importance of talking about emotions at home and accompany uncomfortable emotions. A child who feels cared for and loved will be more likely to take advantage of your cognitive abilities. On the other hand, it is also important encourage autonomy and decision making appropriate to the age and letting children face situations for which they do have resources and allowing them to make mistakes. Otherwise, we are sending them a message that they are not capable, which, over time, can lead to insecurity and problems deciding for oneself in adulthood.
The child’s brain, as well as the adolescent’s, is ‘under construction’; How can we help them take advantage of that foundation to get more out of their brain?
I think a good way is to focus on the learning process and not so much in the results. There is a phenomenon that has been studied a lot in Psychology called Pygmalion effect which means that the expectations that teachers and parents have of a student influence their academic performance. It is difficult for a child who feels like a failure because They have given him the label of bad student try as hard as someone who receives words of support. Children trust adults a lot and how they are treated in their environment. childhood It can have a profound impact for your entire life. On the other hand, there are skills that are easier to master if learned in childhood, such as languages or musical instruments.
Can a child with certain limitations increase his potential if he works properly?
We can all improve any skill if we work on it.although we will always be better at some things than others and we will learn at different paces. If it is suspected that there may be a specific learning disorder because the child has difficulties in reading (dyslexia), writing (digraphy) or with mathematics (dyscalculia), a professional can help us find ways to work on these domains individually with the necessary adaptations.
What is brain plasticity and what does it involve?
Brain plasticity is the capacity of brain to change with experience. This means that we can continue learning throughout our lives and that our experiences shape us.
How does the plasticity of their brain benefit children in general?
The brain plasticity It is very big when we are small and that makes us have a great learning ability during our childhood.
In your book you talk about the “dark side of neuroplasticity”; what does this mean?
In general, neuroplasticity It is a very interesting property of our brain, but this ability to change with experience also makes us vulnerable to addictions and addiction. chronic pain. Both are examples of cases in which our brain changes as a result of an experience (such as a substance or an injury) but in which the effects are unwanted.
© Roca EditorialIs it true that the first years of life lay the foundations on which everything else will be based (cognitive skills, behavior…)?
The first years of life have a profound impact on us. It is when we learn how the world works and what we can expect from the people around us, what is right and what is wrong, what others expect of us… That does not mean, of course, that we cannot unlearn and learn at the stage. adult, but it will require effort.
Are we conditioned by those first years of life?
I would say yes, we are conditioned, but not condemned. As we have said, our brain is plastic throughout life and we have a lot of room for maneuver.
Children trust adults a lot and how they are treated in their childhood can have a profound impact on their entire lives.
Experts point out that a great deal of neuronal pruning occurs during adolescence; Is it the great opportunity that parents have to ‘redo’ what was not done correctly in early childhood?
Indeed, During adolescence, many connections between neurons are lostsomething that, although it may apparently sound like something negative, is believed to be a way to eliminate those connections that are not used. adolescence It is a stage that is accompanied by many changes associated with the search for identity and fitting into the group. Adolescents are likely to withdraw from their caregivers at this stage and, although it may be frustrating, it is completely natural. However, that doesn’t mean they no longer need their parents. At this stage, it is a good idea for the family to respect their children’s space while offering open communication and clear boundaries.
It has also been discovered not long ago that pregnancy and motherhood change women’s brains; in what way?
This is a very interesting line of research that has been led by the group of Susana Carmona from the Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Madrid. There is still much to understand, but changes similar to those that occur during adolescence have been seen, that is, a loss of connections between neurons. It is believed that this could help shape the brain to prioritize the baby. These changes begin during pregnancy and last for several years. Changes, although smaller, have also been found in men who have been fathers. It remains to be investigated what part of the changes associated with motherhood have to do with parenting itself and what part with pregnancy and hormonal changes.
Neuroscience is relatively new; Has it come to give new opportunities to children, adolescents and adults?
Neuroscience is the study of the brain and, although humans have been trying to understand this organ for centuries, we can consider that neuroscience modern started with Santiago Ramon y Cajalwhen he discovered in 1888 that the nervous system was made up of neurons. Since then, techniques have been developed that allow us to study the brain from the molecular and cellular level to see which regions of the brain are activated when we perform a specific task. All of this brings us closer to better understanding how the brain works and trying to find solutions to disorders and diseases. However, it is important to emphasize that we are more than our brain and that other disciplines that do not study the brain directly, such as Psychology or Sociology, have a lot to contribute.