Jul 02, 2022 12:00:00

'Predictability and consistency' of parental behavior is key to the development of a healthy brain in a child

In recent years, childhood experience has been shown to play an important role in child development, and researchers are

investigating various factors that affect child development. In a paper published by a research team led by Tallie Baram , a professor of pediatric science and biophysics at the University of California, Irvine, 'Children raised by parents whose behavior is difficult to predict or whose behavior is inconsistent are emotional. It may interfere with the development of a typical brain. '

Principles of emotional brain circuit maturation
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn4016

Predictable and consistent parental behavior is key for optimal child brain development
https://theconversation.com/predictable-and-consistent-parental-behavior-is-key-for-optimal-child-brain-development-184300

In tackling the question 'what signals affect the development of the emotional system of the brain?', Baram et al.'S research team 'signals received from the environment' in the development of the sensory system of the brain such as vision and hearing. I focused on the fact that is important.

For example, if an infant barely opens his eyes, the child may develop lifelong vision problems even after he grows up. Infants who are unable to distinguish between everyday sound patterns and connections due to frequent ear infections may have lifelong hearing problems.

From these results, Baram et al. Suspected that the signal from the 'parent', the main source of information received by the baby, might be essential for the normal development of the brain. In fact, in a 2020 paper published by Baram et al.'S team, parental behavior and reaction to children's wishes play an important role in emotional development, and the lack of reaction to children such as neglect . It has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of emotional problems in later life.

However, while many researchers focus on parental 'positive' or 'negative' behavior, Baram pays little attention to the 'predictability' and 'consistency' of behavior. He pointed out. Predictable and consistent parents are parents who react in the same way whenever their child falls or wants a toy. In the long run, it also means predictable lifestyle patterns such as breakfast and dinner timing, people picking up and dropping off children, and bedtime.

To investigate the effects of parental predictability and consistency on children, Baram experimented with

mice and rats to determine the effects of parental behavior on childhood neurodevelopment. Baram et al. Also conducted experiments with human parents and children, observed how parents and children play, measured the predictability of parental behavior, and then conducted tests and questionnaires to examine the degree of cognitive and emotional development of children. The we.

A series of studies involving animals and humans suggest that predictable and consistent parental behavior patterns are associated with better emotional and cognitive functioning in children later in life. Shown. Although the series of studies focused primarily on the mother, the research team believes that the same principles are very likely to apply to the father.

'The results of this study suggest that parenting isn't the only factor that affects a child's development, whether it's positive or negative. Parents predict the emotional brain development of the child. Raising children in a possible and consistent way is just as important. '