ABBA-PAI: Our Little Brains in (de)formation

This is the second part of a series of three studies we are producing on the relationship between neurological development and society, or between our minds and our world. Our accelerated neurological development in the first fifteen months after birth is a gift that has given human beings greater abilities to survive.

We saw in the last ABBA-PAI (read here) that this gift is what makes our neurological development happen so that we can form good socio-affective relationships and live well in society, becoming cooperative, productive, supportive and empathetic members of the communities in which we live. This forms a safe, fair and culturally and economically vibrant society. However, our neurological plasticity in accordance with the environment in this first period of development has a side effect. Negative and even traumatic experiences of neglect and violence can determine a baby's neurological development for the rest of their life.

If you want to know what the consequences of this are, both individually and socially, take the time to read this study. The information presented here should be considered in depth by anyone interested in the welfare of children in situations of risk and social vulnerability. Read here.