PTC- Educ 1 Child and Adolescent Development

Chapter III- Brain Development in Middle Childhood

Prepared by: Larish Lava

A child’s developmental path in their middle childhood years (between 6 and 12 years of age) contributes substantially to the adolescent and adult they
will become.
Middle childhood is a stage where children move into expanding roles and environments. Children begin to spend more time away from their family
and spend more time in school and other activities. As they experience more of the world around them, children begin to develop their own identity.

Children in this age group are entering the “age of reason” because they begin to:
be more flexible in their thinking,
develop self-awareness, and
identify and understand others’ feelings or emotions.
During middle childhood, children work towards four important milestones, including:
adjusting to school;
achieving new academic skills such as learning to read
learning to get along with peers; and
learning the rules of our culture or society.

Lobes of the brain

The cerebral cortex can be divided into four sections, which are known as lobes.
The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain and is associated with reasoning, motor skills, higher level cognition, and expressive
language. The motor cortex in this area of the brain receives information from various lobes of the brain and utilizes this information to carry
out body movements. Damage to the frontal lobe can lead to changes in sexual habits, socialization, and attention as well as increased risk-
taking.
The parietal lobe is located in the middle section of the brain and is associated with processing tactile sensory information such as pressure,
touch, and pain. A portion of the brain known as the somatosensory cortex is located in this lobe and is essential to the processing of the
body's senses.
The temporal lobe is located on the bottom section of the brain. This lobe is also the location of the primary auditory cortex, which is
important for interpreting sounds and the language we hear. The hippocampus is also located in the temporal lobe, which is why this portion
of the brain is also heavily associated with the formation of memories. Damage to the temporal lobe can lead to problems with memory,
speech perception, and language skills.
The occipital lobe is located at the back portion of the brain and is associated with interpreting visual stimuli and information. The primary
visual cortex, which receives and interprets information from the retinas of the eyes, is located in the occipital lobe. Damage to this lobe can
cause visual problems such as difficulty recognizing objects, an inability to identify colors, and trouble recognizing words.

Brain development
The human brain is not only one of the most important organs in the human body; it is also the most complex
Begins shortly after conception and continuous through the life span
Maybe affected through sensing pathways by sound, touch, vision, smell and thoughts
One of the most important aspects of the brain is the ability to change during young age
Total brain volume stabilizes by the end of middle childhood, but changes in various structures and regions of the brain continue to occur
Age 6 to 7: maturation of occipital lobe (contrast sensitivity and peripheral vision reach adult levels)
Age 8: maturation of temporal lobe (responds in consistent ways)
Age 9: 95% of brain growth is reached
Age 10 to 11: brain weight
1,440 grams in males (3.2 lbs)
1,260 grams in females (2.7 lbs)
Cerebral Cortex- thickens in the temporal and frontal lobe areas (improved language abilities such as reading)
Prefrontal Cortex- pathways and circuitry increases (improved attention, reasoning and cognitive control)
Growth is characterized by interrelated process namely:
Cell proliferation- the process by which cells grow and divide to replenish lost cells
Cell pruning- selective elimination of cells and their connections that are infrequently used
Continuity of “Lateralization” of the two hemispheres of the brain as well as maturation of the corpus callosum (the bands of neural
fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres allowing communication between the right and left sides of the brain)
“No matter how lateralized the brain can get, though, the two sides still work together.”- Carl Zimmer

Consuming brain-smart food is an essential part of the equation when it comes to living well at any age. A healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables,
nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fish is paramount in order to prevent memory loss, cognitive disease, and mood disorders. Through the revolutionary
science of nutrigenomics — how nutrition affects gene expression and health — we can gain insights into the kinds of food we should eat and avoid.

Brain-Busting Food
 White flour lacks healthful nutrients and causes chronic inflammation and sugar spikes.
 Mild-to-moderate alcohol consumption of red wine has been shown to be heart healthy. But alcohol dependency leads to the loss of serotonin
— the “happiness” hormone — and triggers impaired memory, cognitive decline, anxiety, and depression.
 Refined sugar may provide an energy jolt, but it’s only temporary. Unhealthy sugars promote inflammation and disrupt the brain’s ability to
convert glucose into energy, to regulate the hunger-satiety hormones, and to release dopamine (feel-good chemical).
 Fast-food consumption has been linked to depression, irritability, and cognitive deficits. These foods also perpetuate the unhealthy cycle of
craving more high-calorie food.
 High consumption of saturated and trans fats is linked to memory deficits.
Brain-Boosting Food
 Colorful vegetables and fruits, red wine, cocoa, and berries have antioxidants which delay cognitive decline.
 Coffee, many kinds of tea, cocoa, dark chocolate. Caffeine seems to protect the brain. A dose of 5 cups of coffee/day has been shown to reduce
the early signs of Parkinson’s disease
 Salmon, tuna, fatty fish, walnuts and other nuts contain Omega-3 fatty acids enhances cognition and learning and are anti-inflammatory
 Mushrooms, milk, soy milk, cereal grains, broccoli contain B Vitamins. People who drink a lot of alcohol need it more as well as women and children
 Curry, turmeric and mustards contain curcumin which is anti-inflammatory that protects the brain against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
 Eggs, nuts, spinach, dairy, red meat has tryptophan. The brain uses this amino acid to make serotonin, an essential mood-regulating
neurotransmitter
References: “A Guide to the Anatomy of the Brain” by verywellmind
“Middle Childhood” by Healthy Child Manitoba Kalat, JW. Biological Psychology. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning; 2016
https://www.gov.mb.ca/healthychild/mcad/middle.html https://www.verywellmind.com/the-anatomy-of-the-brain-2794895

“Brain and Nervous System Development” by CliffsNotes 2016 “Brain Boosters and busters” Food for Thought
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/psychology/development-
https://genechanger.com/food-for-thought-brain-boosters-and-
psychology/physical-cognitive-development-age-711/physical-development-age-711
busters/
“Early and Middle Childhood” Better Brains for Babies
http://www.bbbgeorgia.org/brainTimeEarlyChild.php