Did you know the infant brain forms 2.5 million neural connections every hour? That's a whopping 60 million connections every day. Under ideal situations of a loving, nurturing environment, these synapses flourish.
On the other hand, it is thought that severe or chronic stress and trauma impacts the way these connections develop. Under-development in certain areas of the brain can affect basic functions such as trust or empathy. Unused synapses are pruned out in favor of those that are utilized more often. Thus, in situations of abuse or neglect, the brain might focus primarily on recognizing and reacting to danger. This becomes the dominant paradigm, and other areas of learning and development can be compromised.
To continue reading this essay by Vicki Dundas, nursing supervisor at the Missoula City County Health Department, go to: http://missoulian.com/lifestyl...18-0665afd5cbaa.html
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