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As the expectations are strengthened by similar experiences being repeated, babies’ brains construct perceptions of the social and emotional world in which they live. For example, when a baby fusses or cries, consistent adult responses that provide comfort help the child anticipate similar responses in the future.
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As babies experience responses from their caregivers, their brains start to form expectations for how they will be treated and how they should respond. The information gathered in these early relationships is at the heart of a rich and complex brain-building process. When this occurs, emotional and social development suffer, and, because babies’ emotional base is the foundation for all other learning, so do intellectual and language development (Greenspan 1990 IOM & NRC 2015).Ī baby’s early experiences in relationships, whether at home or in an early education environment, set the stage for future brain functioning. If their expectations are less than adequately met, their confidence in getting their needs met through relationships may be challenged. These pleasurable early interactions stimulate the brain, motivating the baby to relate to those who care for them with confidence and ease. If babies’ expectations for protection and nurturance are met, their brains experience pleasure and delight. Their very survival depends on this availability. Even before birth, babies have a built-in expectation that adults will be available and care for their needs (Shonkoff & Phillips 2000). That experience was both humbling and energizing.Of all that brain science has taught us over the last 30 years, one of the clearest findings is that early brain development is directly influenced by babies’ day-to-day interactions with their caregivers.
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From working on the OHBM blogs, I got a sense of history, of different perspectives, of how successful scientists can reinvent themselves and stay true to their passions. It is true that we all have to publish and propagate knowledge as researchers, but the reasons that we became researchers in the first place may be something different. As a PI, I find that all too often, PIs and trainees may get tunnel vision, being committed to certain research findings and to propagating certain theories. My favourites are: (1) the story of the first human fMRI experiment at the MGH (Mark Cohen interview) (2) finding out about the future of data sharing from David Van Essen (3) the chaotic but pseudo-stable nature of brain connectivity and (4) how stimulating the lateral prefrontal cortex makes people comply more with social norms. This year I met interesting people and learned interesting things through writing the blog posts. I look forward to ushering in 2018 with the OHBM community. I truly believe that OHBM draws its strength from its inherent diversity, an ingredient necessary to advance the understanding of the organization of the human brain. He touched on the themes of discovery, flexibility, and evolution in the field of human brain mapping, and the importance of taking a step back and drawing inspiration from the brilliant diversity that is OHBM – be it the various imaging modalities highlighted, the composition of OHBM’s membership, comprised of both trainee and established members, or multidisciplinary interactions such as the annual art and neuroscience exhibits. I found myself entranced by Marsel’s recap of the organization’s history. I realized this while interviewing Marsel Mesulam, a longstanding academic inspiration of mine and a founding member of OHBM. As 2017 comes to an end, I think of the numerous ways that OHBM has promoted diversity since that first meeting in Paris, 22 years ago.