Building a Trauma Informed System of Care Toolkit

Building a Trauma Informed System of Care Trauma I formed Care Trai the Trainer

Rev. 5/2019

Brain Development

Brain Development

∗ At birth, the brain is underdeveloped. Not all of the brain’s areas are organized and fully functional. ∗ During childhood the brain matures and brain related capabilities develop in sequence. For example, we crawl before we walk, babble before we talk. ∗ The process of sequential development is guided by experience. ∗ The brain develops and modifies itself in response to experience.

∗ The brain has a “bottom up” organization ∗ The bottom controls the most simple functions such as respiration, heart rate and blood pressure ∗ The top areas control more complex functions such as thinking and regulating emotions

Harvard University Videos

Brain Development

Experiences Build Brain Architecture

∗ The following videos from the Harvard Center are on the Developing Child. ∗ Each one is less than 2 minutes ∗ Play the first two one right after the next (slide 27) ∗ Comment on brain development being like the architecture of a building. First a foundation and then the rest of the structure. ∗ Slides 28 and 29 illustrate Serve and Return Circuitry

Serve and Return Interaction

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/three-core-concepts-in-early-development/

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/three-core-concepts-in-early-development/

82

5