How the Timing and Quality of Early Experiences Influence the Development of Brain Architecture

By S. Fox, Pat Levitt, Charles A. Nelson. 2010

1,027 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Early life events can exert a powerful influence on both the pattern of brain architecture and behavioral development. In this paper a conceptual framework is provided for considering how the structure of early experience gets “under the skin.” The paper begins with a description of the genetic framework that lays the foundation for brain development, and then to the ways experience interacts with and modifies the structures and functions of the developing brain. Much of the attention is focused on early experience and sensitive periods, although it is made clear that later experience also plays an important role in maintaining and elaborating this early wiring diagram, which is critical to establishing a solid footing for development beyond the early years.

Subfields: Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Social Psychology

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Cognitive Neuroscience

1. Kerstin Konrad
2. Katie A. McLaughlin
3. David G. Weissman
4. Debbie Bitran

In Developmental and Educational Psychology

1. Katie A. McLaughlin
2. David G. Weissman
3. Debbie Bitran

In Social Psychology

1. Susan W. White
2. David Graham Wastell
3. Katie A. McLaughlin
4. David G. Weissman
5. Debbie Bitran

Citations in the corpus

• Brain‐to‐brain synchrony in parent‐child dyads and the relationship with emotion regulation revealed by fNIRS‐based hyperscanning (2018, background): “The development of brain structures and functions is shaped by a complex interaction between genetic influences and pre- and postnatal environmental factors continuously affecting the neural architecture throughout lifetime (Fox et al., 2010; Belsky and de Haan, 2011; Kolb et al., 2012).”
• Childhood Adversity and Neural Development: A Systematic Review (2019, methodology): “This definition builds upon modern definitions of life stress (Monroe 2008) as well as models of experience-expectant brain development (Fox et al. 2010).”
• Blinded by neuroscience: social policy, the family and the infant brain (2012, background): “To experience its thrall, let us look at a recent review article, which constitutes something of a manifesto for the cause (Fox et al, 2010).”
• The Role of Nutrition in Brain Development: The Golden Opportunity of the “First 1000 Days” (2016, neutral): “For example, myelination abruptly increases at 32 weeks’ gestation and is most active in the first 2 postnatal years.(1) The monoamine neurotransmitter systems involved in mediating reward, affect, and mood begin their development prenatally,(4) continuing at a brisk pace until at least age 3 years.”
• Resting brain activity in early childhood predicts IQ at 18 years (2023, unknown): “A lack of expected environmental inputs during this critical period has long-lasting effects on neurocognitive development (Fox et al., 2010).”