Early Brain Development Sets the Foundation for Learning, Behaviour

1
Early Brain Development Sets the Foundation for
Learning, Behaviour Health
Summer Institute on Early Childhood Development
OISE, Toronto, Ontario
By J. Fraser Mustard Founding President, CIAR
June 9, 2005
2
03-072
CIAR
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
3
03-073
CIAR Programs
Population Health Human Development Economic
Growth
4
98-032
Gradients
Can be steep or shallow (no threshold) At the
lowest SES position, many still do well in
respect to health, education and learning Not
simply a poverty question Is a social
issue Cohesion trust
5
04-015
Socio-Economic Gradient and Mortality Men UK
140
120
SMR
100
SMR Standardized Mortality Rate
80
60
I
V
IV
III
II
Social Class
6
03-131
NEUROSCIENCE
7
04-039
Two Neurons
RECIPIENT NEURON
Axon
Synapse
SIGNAL-SENDING NEURON
Dendrite
8
03-078
Experience and Brain Development
Stimuli in early life switch on genetic pathways
that differentiate neuron function sensitive
periods
Stimuli affect the formation of
the connections (synapses)
among the billions of neurons
From studies in humans, monkeys and rats
9
00-078
Brain Pathway and Plasticity in Early Years
1. Hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis
- regulation of cortisol
memory, diabetes, heart disease,
cognition, behaviour
2. Autonomic nervous system
blood pressure, respiration
3. Sensing pathways (vision, sound, touch etc.)
cognition, language, literacy etc.
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05-111
HPA PATHWAY STRESS
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03-002
Emotional Stimulus
Amygdala
Hippocampus
-

-

Hypothalamus PVN
Cortisol
Cortisol
CRF
PIT
ACTH
Adrenal Cortex
LeDoux, Synaptic Self
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03-110
Interaction of the Brain and Immune System
CRF
Hypothalamus
Cortisol
Locus Ceruleus
CRF
Adrenal Gland
ACTH
Pituitary Gland
Vagus
Cortisol
Cytokines
Sympathetic Nervous system
Immune Cells
Nerve
Immune Organs
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04-042
SENSING PATHWAYS
14
03-079
Vision - Hubel Wiesel
Eye cataracts at birth prevent
development of vision neurons
in the occipital cortex
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01-003
Human Brain Development Synapse Formation
Language
Sensing
Pathways
Higher
(vision, hearing)
Cognitive Function
9
0
1
4
8
12
16
3
6
-3
-6
Months
Years
Conception
AGE
C. Nelson, in From Neurons to Neighborhoods, 2000.
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03-063
HEALTH
17
04-006
Swedish Longitudinal Study ECD and Adult Health
Number of Adverse ECD Circumstances
1
2
4
0
3
Adult Health
Odds - Ratios
General Physical
1
1.39
1.54
2.08
2.66
1
1.56
1.53
2.91
7.76
Circulatory
Mental
1
1.78
2.05
3.76
10.27
Economic, family size, broken family and family
dissention
Lundberg, Soc. Sci. Med, Vol. 36, No. 8, 1993
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00-069
Health Problems Related to Early Life
and Brain Development
Coronary Heart Disease Non-insulin Dependent
Diabetes Obesity Blood Pressure Aging and
Memory Loss Mental Health (depression)
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03-089
Serotonin Gene and Depression Age 26
Depression Risk
.70
SS
S Short Allele L Long Allele
.50
SL
LL
.30
No Abuse
Moderate Abuse
Severe Abuse
Early Childhood
A. Caspi, Science, 18 July 2003, Vol 301.
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03-065
BEHAVIOUR
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01-008
"Longitudinal studies show most seriously
antisocial adolescents and adults who had
behavior problems during childhood showed as
antisocial behavior when they enter the school
systems."
Tremblay, R
. - Developmental Health and the
Wealth of Nations, 1999
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05-115
Romanian Adoption Project Scores at 10.5 Years
CB EA
RO IQ 108 99 85 Language
Score 106 99 88 Behaviour 13 9 43 CB
- Canadian Born EA - Early Adopted RO -
Romanian Orphanage
L. Le Mare
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00-046
Evening Cortisol Levels Increase with
Months of Orphanage Rearing
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
Log10 Salivary Cortisol
-0.8
linear trendline
-1
-1.2
0
10
20
30
40
50
Months of Orphanage Rearing
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03-115
LITERACY
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04-200
Early Child Development and Language
Starts early first 12 months Sets capability
for mastering multiple languages What is a good
early start?
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02-061
Document Literacy
1994 1998, Ages 16 to 55
Level 1 and 2 Level 4 and 5

Sweden
23
34.0
Canada
42
23.0
Australia
43
17.0
United States
48
18.0
Chile
85
3.0
Mexico
84
1.7
27
00-042
Sociocultural
360
Gradients for
Cuba
Language
320
Scores
By Country
Argentina
Chile
280
Brazil
Language Score
Colombia
Mexico
240
200
1
4
8
12
16
Parents' Education (Years)
28
05-136
Why isnt Canada more widely literate?
May 24, 2005
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04-153
Abecedarian Study Reading
Effect Size
Primary Grades
Preschool
Preschool Primary Grades
1.2
0.8
0.4
0
Age 8
Age 12
Age 15
Age 21
Age at Testing
30
05-066
Grade 3 Language Scores
Argentina _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Brazil _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Chile _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Cuba _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Mexico _ _ _ _ _ _ _
100
250
300
350
400
150
200
UNESCO, 1998
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02-056
Policies to Foster Human Capital
"We cannot afford to postpone investing in
children until they become adults nor can we
wait until they reach school - a time when it
may be too late to intervene."
Heckman, J., 2001
(Nobel Prize Economics, 2000)
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03-074
Rates of Return to Human Development Investment
Across all Ages
8
6
Pre-school Programs
Return Per Invested
School
4
R
Job Training
2
Pre- School
School
Post School
0
6
18
Age
Carneiro, Heckman, Human Capital Policy, 2003
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00-068
ECD
Social
Equality
Education
Health
Capital
Economic
Growth
Human Development
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01-039
www.founders.net
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35
References
References

1. From Early Child Development to Human
   Development. Editor Mary Eming Young, World
   Bank, Washington, 2000.
2. Synaptic Self How Our Brains Become Who We Are.
   Joseph LeDoux, Viking Penguin, New York, 2003.
3. The End of Stress As We Know It. Bruce McEwen,
   Joseph Henry Press, Washington, 2002.
4. Developmental Health and the Wealth of Nations.
   Editors Daniel P. Keating, Clyde Hertzman, The
   Guilford Press, New York, 1999.
5. From Neurons to Neighborhoods. The Science of
   Early Child Development. Editors Jack P.
   Shonkoff and Deborah A. Phillips, National
   Academy Press, Washington, 2000.
6. Early Years Study, Final Report Reversing the
   Real Brain Drain. Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain and
   J. Fraser Mustard, Publications Ontario,
   Toronto,1999.

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References

• 7. Vulnerable Children. Editor J. Douglas
  Willms, University of Alberta Press, Edmonton,
  2002.
• 8. Readiness to Learn at School. Magdalena
  Janus and Dan Offord, In Isuma (Canadian Journal
  of Policy Research) Vol. 1, No. 2, 2000.
• 9. Why are some people healthy and others not?
  Editors Robert G. Evans et al, Aldine De
  Gruyter, New York, 1994.
• The Early Years Study Three Years Later. Hon.
  Margaret Norrie McCain and J. Fraser Mustard, The
  Founders Network, 2002.
• Choice for parents, the best start for children
  a ten year strategy for childcare. Dept. for
  Education and Skills, HM Treasury.
  www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. 2004.