Cognitive and Emotional Development of the pre-born & new-

born baby-part 2
Prof.Lakshman Madurasinghe- Consultant Psychologist and author of “ Clinical
Psychology”

Part 1 of this article appeared in Mum& Me magazine of Nov 2008

Neuronal growth

Even in the womb your baby is beginning to make sense of the world. Every minute
100,000 new nerve cells are created in the brain. At birth the baby has about 100 billion
nerve cells. Research has found that the baby’s brain has the capacity to receive nerve
impulses and then sort the signals it receives. Repeated sounds, movements and perhaps
even the mother’s hormones released in times of stress or calm stimulate the development
of nerve pathways. The brain strengthens the connections of familiar sensations and
ignores more random sensations.

A large surface area is important because it increases the number of neurons (brain cells)
that can be accommodated within the cerebral cortex, the outer 2 millimeters of the
hemispheres. This thin rind (cortex means "rind" in Latin) that is less than the thickness
of an orange peel and has the consistency of tapioca pudding contains two-thirds of all
the 100 billion neurons in the human brain and almost three-quarters of the 100 trillion
interneuronal connections.

These neurons have formed more connections than there are stars in the universe. For
example, by three weeks of development (when the developing embryo is about the size
of a grain of rice), neurons are forming at a rate of more than 250,000 per minute. The
final number of neurons at birth will surpass one hundred billion.

As development progresses, each neuron will make as many as 10,000 connections to

other nerve cells in the brain. Amazingly, unlike other cells in the body that regularly die
and are replaced, the neurons your baby will have in old age are the same neurons that
formed during development in the womb.

Between 5 – 6 weeks the brain formation begins dividing into the right and left
hemispheres, then into the major structures (medulla , cerebellum, etc.) At 8 weeks of
development the baby is two inches long and now called a fetus all major organ systems
are formed and the fetus takes on a visibly human form .

Nurturing Your Child’s Development from 0 to 2 Months

The report, From Neurons to Neighborhoods of the American Academy of Pediatrics

outlines the Childs development as follows:

One of the most important tasks of the first 2 months is to help new- borns feel
comfortable in their new world. They are learning to regulate their eating and sleeping
patterns and their emotions, which help them feel content, safe and secure. Even as
newborns, babies can play in many ways. They can connect sounds with their sources,
and love when you talk and sing to them. Play helps babies learn about the world
around them. It is also an important way they connect with you, helping them to develop
a strong attachment and promoting healthy social development.

Newborns use their gestures (body movements), sounds and facial expressions to
communicate their feelings and needs from day 1. They use different cries to let you
know they are hungry, tired or bored. They ask for a break by looking away,
arching their backs, frowning or crying. They socialize with you by watching your face
and exchanging looks.

What steps to take

Offer your baby lots of different objects for him to look at, touch and even grip in his
palms. He can focus best on things that are 8 to 12 inches away. Play “tracking” games
by moving yourself and interesting objects back and forth. First he will use his eyes to
follow. Eventually he will move his head from side to side. This helps strengthen his neck
muscles as well as exercise his visual abilities.

Observe carefully. This will help you figure out what your baby’s cries are telling you.
Soothe your baby. When you respond to your baby’s cries and meet his needs, you let
him know he is loved. You can’t spoil a baby. In fact, by responding lovingly to his
needs, you are helping him learn skills now that allow him eventually to soothe
himself. You are also promoting a strong bond and healthy brain development.
Left and Right Brain dominance

Basic functions such as breathing and feeding mature earlier than regions controlling
more sophisticated ones such as language or reasoning .Human nervous system
development takes longer in the embryonic stage than other species . The lower regions
of the central nervous system develop specific attributes earlier while higher level (and
area ) brain development may be formed with less detail initially .

The human brain is made out of billions of cells or Neurons Dendrites of a neuron are
the “branches” receiving input and the axon (the “trunk”) relays information Information
is transmitted via electrical impulses within each neuron Most neural development
occurs from 17 weeks of gestation and is called neurogenesis By four months of
gestation most neurons are formed and those that survive continue to exist until old age .

Although most neurons are formed halfway through gestation there are virtually no
synaptic connections – it is experience and interaction with the environment that forms
the synaptic connections . Most synaptogenesis occurs through the 2nd year of life 83%
of dendritic growth (connections between synapses) occurs after birth .Use it or lose it –
Natural Selection of Brain Wiring Neurons and synapses must get hooked together
properly to develop specific skills and abilities in humans .

How the “right” connections are made is still being researched During infancy and early
childhood the cerebral cortex overproduces synapses (2X as needed) .Getting the Wiring
Right . Role of Nature – First Phase of Development Controlled by Genes . Role of
Experience – In the Act of Seeing – Synaptic Pruning Survival of the Fittest or “most
active connections” – During the pruning period until Age 2 .

The most important social/emotional development in infancy is the emergence of

attachment a baby’s strong tie to a primary caregiver and the corresponding caregiver’s
connection to the baby . Attachment becomes a child’s primary source of security, self-
esteem ,Self-control and social skills . Most babies manage to bond with mothers
regardless of mom’s employment status as long as the mother or caregiver is attentive,
responsive, consistent and a stable figure in the child’s life . High quality child care can
ensure a child’s emotional health, improve social competence and advance cognitive
development .

The left brain and right brain capabilities

The left and right hemispheres of the brain have different capabilities. The right brain
possesses the ability to retain complete image of things seen at a glance in the memory.
Also, it is the receptacle for inspiration and the site of expression for image abundant
creativity.

The right brain controls the abilities to visualize images and the realization of those
images physically. Nearly all-successful people, regardless of their field of expertise,
demonstrate the right brain ability of distinct image visualization.

However, as the left-brain develops, it becomes harder to bring forth the abilities of the
right brain. If the child's brain is stuffed with knowledge, it becomes very difficult to
exercise and develop the right brain.

Right brain capabilities that all children possess are:

• The five senses of the right brain. Corresponding to the 5 senses of the left-brain
(sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) the right brain also has its 5 senses. However,
they are not the senses of sight and hearing in the normal manner, but the ability
to see, hear, sense things through waves translated into images. These 5 senses of
the right brain are its basic abilities. When these abilities are released, man
becomes capable of seeing images as motion pictures.

• The ability to see images in the form of motion pictures.

• Photographic memory

• The ability to do complex mental calculations.

• The conversion of images to words, numbers, symbols and the reverse.

• The ability to master foreign languages easily.

• The ability to receive inspiration and use it towards unique creativity.

• The ability of photographic speed-reading.

• The ability to receive information on an intuitive level, and to use that information
accordingly.
Prof.Lakshman Madurasinghe
The author, Prof. Madurasinghe is a Psychologist and a proponent of mind development and heart based
coherence techniques. He was elected the first Asian Watson Scholar of Haggai Institute of Advanced
Leadership, USA in 1993, and is in its International Faculty for Singapore and USA. He is a Life Member
of Cambridge University Society of Cambridge University, England.

He has been trained in Advanced Consciousness studies by The Maharishi and Prof.Tony Nader,
MD.,PhD, Neuro Scientist and taught them for two years in the Sri Lanka branch of the campus as its
President. From 1996- 2005. He was the Consultant Psychologist and Professor- Open Int University-
Medicina Clinic at the Government University teaching Hospital .

He is the author of “Organizational Behavior,” and the joint author of “Clinical Psychology” and a 12-
volume set on “World Religions. The first two volumes covering Buddhism and Christianity were released
in 2004. He has contributed over 300 articles to magazines and professional sites including the Journal of
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

Prof. Madurasinghe is a Chartered Fellow of CIPD-London and an Attorney with a PhD in Clinical
Psychology from OIU-USA, and is a full member of the International Council of Psychologists, USA. He
followed several advanced Counselling modules at the Ellel Grange, UK, Institute of Counseling Glasgow
1991, which included Marriage & Family Counselling, Emotional healing and treating addictions and is a
Charter member of American Association of Christian Counsellors, AACC, USA .

A vast repertoire of web resources and regular blogs may be accessed at: http://www.madure.org