As we have been reading so far it is astounding to me the capacity of the young mind and the impacts our environment has on the growing brain. The potential effects of either nurturing the brain or debilitating it depending on the environmental influences can be dramatic.
During the last couple of generations we have introduced a vast new array of medications to treat various forms of mental disorders in children and adults. Treating children is still controversial because there have not been enough studies or research done to really know what the long-term effects of these mind-altering chemicals on the developing brain will be.
It seems we do not always have the resources available to us to help parents explore other options prior to medicating the child with antidepressants, antipsychotics, stimulants, etc. For whatever reasons, being it lack of education, lack of funds or insurance unwillingness to pay for therapies and second and third opinions be medical specialists, not every parent has access to other options before they decide to medicate their child.
I'm not against medication for children who really need it. Children deserve to have every advantage given to them so they can reach their potential. It would be really nice to continue to see greater awareness, parent and child education, support from pharmaceutical and insurance companies to use medications as a last resort. As with any many diseases including mental health ones, prevention could be the best medicine.
Thank for reading,
Marci.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Week 3: Thought, Language and Entering the Social World
These last couple of chapters The Emergence of Thought and Language and Entering the Social World Socioemotional Development in Infancy and Early Childhood were very interesting in my opinion. All of what I read seemed perfectly logical and rational. Both Piaget and Erickson are well regarded and their theories are backed by research and studies that can give us a good foundation to learn about human behavior and development.
I got a little caught up in the link from PBS on The History of the Brain. I think it's fascinating that we have increased our understanding of the human brain by leaps and bounds just within the last one or two hundred years. Prior to that, like over two thousand years prior that, we based a large part of our knowledge on what so-called educators and physicians presumed, not what they knew to be fact.
The ancient Egyptians regarded the essence of life coming from the heart and believed it to be the most important organ in the human body. The heart is crucial to survival, that part was correct, yet the blatant disregard for the human brain despite it's obvious importance as we know now was evident in their embalming process as they prepared bodies for mummification. I also was surprised to learn that in 450 BC the Greek physician, Alcmaeon concluded that the brain is an organ of sensation and reasoning, not the heart. Alcmaeon's idea was not accepted at that time and almost a hundred years later Aristotle was still thinking in terms of the ancient Egyptians, claiming the heart is and organ of thought and sensation and the human brain just acts as a mere radiator within the body.
Without all of the people and events that have happened throughout history we would not be where we are today. I am thankful I was born in this day and age, although I suppose they didn't know any different at the time either. I guess my point is that I really appreciate the knowledge we have today about human development and how the brain functions. Hopefully we will continue to grow and learn in leaps and bounds.
Marci
I got a little caught up in the link from PBS on The History of the Brain. I think it's fascinating that we have increased our understanding of the human brain by leaps and bounds just within the last one or two hundred years. Prior to that, like over two thousand years prior that, we based a large part of our knowledge on what so-called educators and physicians presumed, not what they knew to be fact.
The ancient Egyptians regarded the essence of life coming from the heart and believed it to be the most important organ in the human body. The heart is crucial to survival, that part was correct, yet the blatant disregard for the human brain despite it's obvious importance as we know now was evident in their embalming process as they prepared bodies for mummification. I also was surprised to learn that in 450 BC the Greek physician, Alcmaeon concluded that the brain is an organ of sensation and reasoning, not the heart. Alcmaeon's idea was not accepted at that time and almost a hundred years later Aristotle was still thinking in terms of the ancient Egyptians, claiming the heart is and organ of thought and sensation and the human brain just acts as a mere radiator within the body.
Without all of the people and events that have happened throughout history we would not be where we are today. I am thankful I was born in this day and age, although I suppose they didn't know any different at the time either. I guess my point is that I really appreciate the knowledge we have today about human development and how the brain functions. Hopefully we will continue to grow and learn in leaps and bounds.
Marci
Monday, April 15, 2013
Week 2 Reflection
Chapters 2 and 3 were very fun to read and really got me thinking about growing up as a child, some of the children I grew up with and some young mothers I have observed over the years. Some of the topics that stood out for me included Influences on Prenatal Development.
General Risk Factors: nutrition, stress, and a mother's age
Nutrition-
I was surprised that if mothers did not consume enough folic acid their babies were at risk for Spina Bifida. During the first month of pregnancy the embryo's neural tube which develops into the brain and spinal cord does not close properly. This causes permanent damage to the spinal cord and nervous system. Many of these children end up walking with crutches or having to use a wheelchair for mobility. I had a friend who had a daughter with Spina Bifida. When her daughter was four years old my friend went back to school and became an RN. I often wonder if she had the knowledge of the importance of adequate nutrition during pregnancy would the outcome had been different for her child. I'm sure she has wondered the same thing. I have not seen her for years since she moved away. Could there have been a genetic predisposition that could not have prevented the outcome of Spina Bifida despite proper diet?
Stress-
It is well known that stress is not healthy for adults, it can put you at risk for heart-attacks, strokes, obesity, sleep disturbances and many other health issues. It's no wonder that a stressed out pregnant woman can pass on distress to her unborn child. The chapter described pregnant woman who experienced stress secreted hormones that reduced the flow of oxygen to the fetus which increases the fetus heart rate and activity level. Stress can weaken the immune system which in turn impacts fetal development. Another topic the chapter discussed was that stressed out pregnant woman may be more likely to drink alcohol and smoke. All of these points made sense to me and were very thought-provoking.
A Mother's Age-
This section of the chapter has been controversial. There are pros and cons to each side and I think It is good to be well educated about having children at a later age in life which would in turn provide a better outcome for mom and baby. As far as teens having babies I believe a strong support system and education can provide the optimum outcome for that situation.
There were so many other topics to discuss but I am out of time.
Thanks for reading,
Marci
General Risk Factors: nutrition, stress, and a mother's age
Nutrition-
I was surprised that if mothers did not consume enough folic acid their babies were at risk for Spina Bifida. During the first month of pregnancy the embryo's neural tube which develops into the brain and spinal cord does not close properly. This causes permanent damage to the spinal cord and nervous system. Many of these children end up walking with crutches or having to use a wheelchair for mobility. I had a friend who had a daughter with Spina Bifida. When her daughter was four years old my friend went back to school and became an RN. I often wonder if she had the knowledge of the importance of adequate nutrition during pregnancy would the outcome had been different for her child. I'm sure she has wondered the same thing. I have not seen her for years since she moved away. Could there have been a genetic predisposition that could not have prevented the outcome of Spina Bifida despite proper diet?
Stress-
It is well known that stress is not healthy for adults, it can put you at risk for heart-attacks, strokes, obesity, sleep disturbances and many other health issues. It's no wonder that a stressed out pregnant woman can pass on distress to her unborn child. The chapter described pregnant woman who experienced stress secreted hormones that reduced the flow of oxygen to the fetus which increases the fetus heart rate and activity level. Stress can weaken the immune system which in turn impacts fetal development. Another topic the chapter discussed was that stressed out pregnant woman may be more likely to drink alcohol and smoke. All of these points made sense to me and were very thought-provoking.
A Mother's Age-
This section of the chapter has been controversial. There are pros and cons to each side and I think It is good to be well educated about having children at a later age in life which would in turn provide a better outcome for mom and baby. As far as teens having babies I believe a strong support system and education can provide the optimum outcome for that situation.
There were so many other topics to discuss but I am out of time.
Thanks for reading,
Marci
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Lifespan Development
This last week has been a learning experience for me especially since I have not been in school for over ten years. Lifespan Development got me thinking about lifelong learning and what research studies have been done on the topic. People are living longer, having babies later in life, changing career paths throughout their lives and have so many more choices than past generations. The computer technology that has expanded over the last twenty years has taken forms of learning to a whole new level. Change can be a great thing or a difficult thing depending on the person and the circumstances. I think this course will give me a better perspective of who I am. I also find that I'm a little more excited about taking a psychology class now than when I was in high school because it is something I want to do. So here is to the beginning of a new experience, or should I say Life-Cycle Force. Marci
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