In reality, children’s “careless” behaviors are all linked to brain development. Thus, parents should understand the brain’s structure and its developmental laws, as many issues can be easily resolved with this knowledge.
In 1848, 25-year-old Gage was a foreman for a railway company in Vermont, USA. He was an exceptional and well-liked young man. One day, while the workers were using explosives to clear debris, a 6-kg iron bar accidentally pierced his skull.
Everyone believed Gage wouldn’t survive. Miraculously, after a period of treatment, he recovered his health in a surprising turn of events. However, after his recovery, Gage’s temperament changed drastically; the once gentle Gage disappeared, and he gradually became aggressive.
How did Gage survive the iron bar piercing his skull? And why did his personality change so drastically after his recovery? To unravel these mysteries, Gage consented to a brain autopsy after his death. His skull and the iron bar are now preserved at the Harvard Medical School Museum.
The final research results significantly contributed to the advancement of human brain science.
The “Three Brains” Interaction for Sustaining Life
Before explaining Gage’s “miraculous survival yet sudden temperament change,” let’s delve into the research findings of American brain scientist Paul D. MacLean, who, in the 1960s, first proposed the “Three Brains” integration theory.
Paul McLean, a neuroscientist at the Yale School of Medicine and the National Institute of Mental Health, posits that the human brain comprises three brains: the brainstem, the limbic system, and the neocortex.
From an evolutionary perspective, these can be likened to the reptile brain, the mammalian brain, and the primate brain (from bottom to top). The brain, it seems, is home to all sorts of animals.
These three types of brains are connected by nerve fibers. There is no hierarchical relationship between them; instead, each has its own responsibilities. However, they influence each other, and only when they are in harmony does the brain function normally.
The Reptilian Brain: Ensuring Basic Survival
Of the “three brains,” the first to mature is the “reptilian brain” (referring to the brain formed when humans evolved from reptiles, such as lizards). This brain is already fully developed in the fetal stage.
That’s why when a child is born into this world, they can breathe, sense temperature, feel hunger, humidity, and pain… The maturity of the reptilian brain ensures our basic survival.
Gage’s miraculous survival, despite the iron bar piercing his skull, can be attributed to the fact that the iron bar did not damage his reptilian brain, the “survival center.”
Children are naturally curious and love to explore the world around them.
The Mammalian Brain: Influencing Life Decisions
Above the reptilian brain is the mammalian brain (found only in mammals). All animals that live in groups and nurture their young have this type of brain, which is primarily responsible for appetite, sexual desire, short-term memory, etc.
The existence of the mammalian brain has a significant impact on our choices and decisions, big or small, in daily life. For example, a child’s food preferences, musical tastes, whether they prefer painting or walking, whom they befriend, and whom they strongly dislike…
The mammalian brain develops rapidly after birth, especially in the first 2-3 years. And it develops through use; when a bundle of nerve cells is repeatedly activated, the brain remembers this activation pattern and reactivates it.
For instance, if a child always feels safe and loved, their brain will excel at exploration, play, and cooperation. Conversely, if a child constantly feels fearful, rejected, and attacked, their brain will be adept at sensing danger and abandonment.
The mammalian brain is influenced by both genetics and the child’s life experiences. Whatever happens to an infant, these experiences will leave an indelible mark on their mammalian brain.
In the world of brain science, the reptilian and mammalian brains are collectively known as the emotional brain. It is the center of the central nervous system, accounting for 70% of the entire brain.
The cellular organization and biochemical characteristics of the emotional brain are simple, so it can only make general judgments based on the similarity of situations, triggering fight-or-flight responses. These reactions do not require thought or planning…
The Primate Brain: Responsible for Impulse Control, Rational Judgment, and More
The “rational brain” contrasts with the “emotional brain” and specifically refers to the “primate brain.”
The primate brain consists of three parts: the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes. Among them, the frontal lobe is responsible for uniquely human functions such as rational judgment, decision-making, planning, prediction, impulse control, and other abilities.
At this point, the root cause of Gage’s drastic temperament change has been elucidated: his primate brain, responsible for impulse control and rational judgment, was damaged.
Many Childhood Issues Are Linked to the Frontal Lobe
Brain scientists have discovered that the frontal lobe controls language abilities, abstract thinking, and can help children think more rationally. A child with a mature and active frontal lobe will have better learning abilities and emotional control.
Generally, the frontal lobe doesn’t mature until around age 25. With the prevalence of electronic devices, the age at which the frontal lobe matures continues to be delayed. Thus, experts believe that the rebellious period of children today is particularly prolonged.
Understanding the developmental laws of the frontal lobe allows us to comprehend gender differences and help boys adapt better to school learning.
The Frontal Lobe Matures at Different Ages in Boys and Girls
The age of frontal lobe maturity differs slightly between males and females, with males reaching it around 30 years old and females around 24 years old. Why is there such a significant difference? This may be related to evolutionary demands.
Women can give birth when they are physiologically mature. If the frontal lobe, responsible for judgment, is not yet mature, child-rearing will be challenging. Thus, for women to successfully raise children, their frontal lobes mature earlier.
What about men? Their role in hunting requires sensitivity rather than rational analysis. Once danger is detected, one must flee immediately. Therefore, the emotional brain of males develops more than the frontal lobe.
Experts say that the current education system is unfair to boys who are naturally restless and have slower-developing frontal lobes.
Outdoor play helps children’s brains develop better.
Intensive Tutoring and High Pressure Inhibit Frontal Lobe Development
A group from Hallym University’s Sacred Heart Hospital in South Korea published research results indicating that the more children attend tutoring classes, the greater their stress levels, leading to increased cortisol secretion and overactivity of the reptilian brain. This, in turn, increases the risk of depression and violence.
Under normal circumstances, blood flow is evenly distributed to the reptilian, mammalian, and primate brains. During this time, children are usually well-behaved and perform well academically… However, when they feel stressed, problems arise.
When a child is stressed, their heart rate also increases, and the reptilian brain takes control of heart function. Instead of being evenly distributed throughout the brain, blood concentrates in the reptilian brain. Naturally, the primate brain’s frontal lobe experiences local blood deprivation.
The most common words a child with an overactive reptilian brain might say are, “I’m bored”, and when asked, “Why did you do that?” the typical response is, “I don’t know”…
What’s more concerning is that if the reptilian brain remains active, the frontal lobe, crucial for learning and character formation, may be damaged, creating a vicious cycle that’s hard to break.
How to Activate Children’s Frontal Lobe Cells for Enhanced Intelligence and Academic Performance
Brain researchers have suggested three methods that parents can refer to.
Let Children Play Freely
In reality, the best way to keep the frontal lobe active is to focus on what children enjoy. Professor Mihaly, in his book Flow, mentions that “Concentration is a prerequisite for happiness.”
From birth to death, humans focus on four things at different life stages: play in childhood, love in youth, work in adulthood, and grandchildren in old age.
When children concentrate on what they want to do, neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and emotional hormones are released, activating the frontal lobe and making them feel happy.
During this “play” concentration period, the neurotransmitters released by the brain can activate the frontal lobe. Any unpleasantness with parents and teachers will not cause much harm.
However, it is not easy to see children truly playing nowadays, as their academic lives are busier than those of adults, leaving them with fewer opportunities to interact with peers, and their ability to share and care diminishes.
European and American countries started researching the brain very early on. They know that having children study all day can reduce their concentration, so they ensure that children participate in sports activities in the afternoon when they are in school.
Spend Time in Nature with Loved Ones
Since ancient times, many people have chosen to recuperate in beautiful places. This is because phytoncides and negative ions found in nature can help alleviate stress and fatigue. If children can be with their loved ones at this time, their happiness will increase.
The people children love the most when they are young are usually their parents. However, parents also have an “expiration date.” This “expiration date” refers to the period during which children enjoy spending time with their parents and are willing to play with them. According to experts, this period typically lasts until the third grade of elementary school. After that, children prefer to be with their friends.
Spending time in nature with loved ones.
Children in the early years of elementary school are happiest when they immerse themselves in nature with their parents. The serotonin and dopamine released during this time will make the frontal lobe more active. Good friendships formed during this stage not only accumulate beautiful memories but also empower children to overcome failures in the future.
Learn Foreign Languages and Read Books
Humans are born with a brain capable of speaking all languages fluently. Still, if only the native language is used, the unused parts will degenerate. Learning multiple languages activates the frontal lobe and prevents memory loss.
Reading books is also beneficial for frontal lobe development. This is because children need to imagine the scenes while reading. Unlike watching movies, where the mind often goes blank, reading requires thinking, which can naturally stimulate frontal lobe development.
Related research shows that watching TV and playing video games for extended periods will negatively impact frontal lobe development—although watching TV can directly stimulate the senses, it does not stimulate the frontal lobe necessary for making right and wrong judgments and restraining impulses. This ability is almost paralyzed.
If possible, parents should try to control the time their children spend watching TV and playing video games.
