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+--- Thread: Impact of prenatal and early influences on cognition/behavior (/Thread-Impact-of-prenatal-and-early-influences-on-cognition-behavior)
Impact of prenatal and early influences on cognition/behavior - elpida - 03-10-2005
Greetings! My name is Vicki Kerman, and I am an early childhood special educator in Columbus, Ohio USA. I work with members of the education community in helping them to understand the biological basis for student cognition and behavior, and the types of strategies that they can implement in order to address their students' academic and behavioral needs.
I just discovered this forum this morning, and it is wonderful! The basic premise that educators need to have a better understanding of the role of brain in learning is so well-founded!
My particular area of interest lies in the neurophysiological/neurochemical impact of untoward influences present both prentally and in early childhood. This includes prenatal alcohol/drug exposure, early trauma, emotional neglect, sensory deprivation, malnutrition, etc. These influences, although spread throughout the US, are highly prevalent among children in foster care/adoption situations.
My experience has been that literature/information on these is scattered, with sources focusing on studies pertaining to single areas of interest (e.g. impact of cocaine, of early trauma, etc.). I would like to provide the educators with whom I work a single source that they can read for further information. Can anyone recommend a single source/volume/book that presents current thinking/research on how the brain learns, as well as how each of the insults mentioned above affects this process (as well as how they interact within the brain)?
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Vicki :-)
Impact of prenatal and early influences on cognition/behavior - Christina - 04-10-2005
Welcome to the forum Vicki. We’re glad you’ve joined the discussions. It sounds like your expertise will add a very interesting perspective to the dialogue!
I think you are correct that much of this literature is scattered. If you are interested in an overview of learning from a neurobiological perspective, I would recommend Squire and Kandels’ Memory: From Mind to Molecules.
All the best,
Christina
Impact of prenatal and early influences on cognition/behavior - OECD - 13-10-2005
Hi Vicky,
A book that has just been published and is very easy to read for the layman is:
"The Learning Brain" by Sarah-Jayne Blakemore and Uta Frith, Blackwell publishing