attachment, emotional well-being and the developing brain presentation

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Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Louise Gilbert 26 November 2013 [email protected] Course Lead: Dr. Janet Rose

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Page 1: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain

Louise Gilbert 26 November 2013 [email protected]

Course Lead: Dr. Janet Rose

Page 2: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Turn to your neighbour…

• tell them your name and a little about your working life

• What inspired you to want to take this module? • ‘1 worry and 2hopes’ you have about

starting/taking the module

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 3: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

This session will focus on:

• Brain development - experience, environment & genetics

• Trauma – Physical, Social, Psychological

• Factors that can influence the attachment process and relationships.

Page 4: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Political Influence

Economic

Policy

Hea

lthP

olic

y

WelfarePolicy

SocialPolicyTechnology

Natio

nal

Wea

lth

Political

Stability

Community Facilities

Physica

l

Environment

Employm

ent

Opportunities

Housing

Cultural

Identity

Biological Microsystem

BehaviouralMicrosystem

PsychosocialMicrosystem

LeisureWork

Lifestylecultural

GeneticsPhysiological Process

Health StatusAge Relationships

Social Support

Temperament

Mesosystem: Immediate Environment

Exosystem: Local Environment

Macrosystem: National Environment

Chronosystem: Changes through time

Action

Reaction

Interaction

The Approach - the Assumptions

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 5: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

What informs understanding of mental health & well -being?

• Neuroscientific evidence

• The Physiology of the physicality

• Social Constructivism26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 6: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Why bother?National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Public health guidance 40, 2012Guidance for social and emotional well-being for LA’s, NHS, community, voluntary & private sectors

Allen Report, 2011The significance of social and emotional intelligence

Marmot Review, 2010The significance of nurturant environments

Field Report, 2010The significance of responsive relationships

Confident Communities/Brighter Futures, 2010 Life course approach which include positive social relationships

Page 7: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Research informing Government Policy: Critical Factors in Early Years

Click on the ‘evidence’ box in the section ‘what research tells us’

http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/earlylearningandchildcare/early/b0077836/introduction

Page 8: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Three approaches to mental health and well-being

• Prevention and health Promotion

• Early intervention

• Targeted support services around the child and family

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 9: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

What’s today all about?

Clip: Shonkoff 4.00min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLiP4b-TPCA26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 10: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The Anatomy, Physiology and biochemistry of our Brains

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 11: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Brain GameWhich way?clip•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZMJeQ4yPPk&feature=related

Solution:clip•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CEr2GfGilw&feature=related

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 12: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Exploring the brain through…• Dissection, experimentation & observation

of behaviour:• Imaging including:• fMRI- Functional magnetic resonance imaging

• CT- Computed tomography

• PET- Positron Emission Tomography

• EEG- Electroencephalography • MEG- Magnetoencephalography • NRIS- Near infrared spectroscopy Great free resource:http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Education-resources/Education-and-learning/Big-Picture/All-issues/Inside-the-brain/index.htm

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 13: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Brain FactsYou are born with 100

billion brain cells, neurons, but these are largely unconnected and not networked

Synapses are produced at the rate of 1.8 million per second between 2 months and

2 years! Each neuron forms about 1,500 synapses

You have more than 2 million miles of neuronal fibres

By the age of 2 a child has as many synapses as an adult but this has doubled by the age of 3

By late adolescence half the synapses in the brain have

been discarded

Stress induced neurochemicals lead to

cell death in a tender brainNeglect may cause unused regions to atrophy - apopsis

When signal transmission reaches a certain threshold the synapses

involved become exempt from future elimination

Myelination begins in the brain stem and cortex and progresses

to higher order regions of thought, memories &feelings

By the age of 3, the brain has reached 90% of adult

size

The brain continues to grow & develop until mid

20’s but remember plasticity

Page 14: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Our Brains

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 15: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Our BrainsYour hand-held

model

(Siegel 2012)

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 16: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

• During the first few years of life the brain becomes organised i.e. the brain changes in response to stimulation.

• Neurons which were unconnected at birth become connected

• Neurons which are not stimulated are lost• Lack of stimulation and profound neglect alters

and reduces the brain’s functioning• Assaults and toxins can damage brains cells,

resulting in difficulties associated with the area affected.

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 17: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Brain Functions by Region.

Brain Region

Age of Greatest Developmental

activity

Age of Functional

Maturity

key Functions

Neocortex(Forebrain)

Childhood.

Adult.

Reasoning, problem-solving, abstraction, secondary sensory

integration.

Limbic(Forebrain)

Early childhood

Puberty.

Memory, emotional regulation, attachment,

affect regulation, primary sensory integration.

Diencephalon(Forebrain)

Infancy Childhood. Motor control, secondary sensory processing.

Brainstem.(Mid and

Hindbrain)In utero Infancy.

Core physiological reflexes and state

regulation, primary sensory processing.

Page 18: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

BRAIN AND DEVELOPMENT

Daniel Hughes & Jonathan Baylin 2013

STAGE ONE: VERTICAL INTEGRATION FRONTO-LIMBIC CIRCUIT 0-18 MONTHS

STAGE TWO: HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION LEFT AND RIGHT INTERACTION

STAGE THREE: LATERAL INTEGRATIONFRONTAL ORCHESTRATION & MATURATION 17-28 YEARS

ESSENTIAL FOR SELF-REGULATION

AND ADAPTIVE FLEXIBILITY

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 19: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Pre –Frontal Lobes: Functions

• Planning ahead• Monitoring• Sustained attention• Goal directional

behaviour• Working memory• Problem solving

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 20: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Limbic System: Functions• It operates by influencing the

endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system

• It stimulates or halts the release of neurotransmitters and hormones

• http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201309/the-love-hormone-drives-human-urge-social-connection (Oxytocin link)

• Ability to process emotions

• Encode, store, and retrieve memories

• Has a role in:

- arousal

- memory,

- emotions,

- feeding,

- sexual behaviours,

- Motivation

Page 21: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The Double Act

Amygdala is for regulating movement, memory, emotions, immune system etc.

Frontal lobes for regulating impulses, planning, judgement, goal-setting etc.

More connections between amygdala and frontal lobes than any other part of brain

Motivation = Emotion in motionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9BErDQF3CU&feature=related (1min)

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Limbic System

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 23: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Complex Problem Solving MachineCOMPETENT

LEARNEREFFECTIVE

COMMUNICATOR

BORN SURVIVOR

ADAPTABLE

Survival by Adoption, Adaption and Maturation

Clips:http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multimedia/videos/three_core_concepts/brain_architecture/ (2min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux_Dr5rvH3Y&feature=related ( basic anatomy clip :3.30min)

Page 24: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Direction of impulse

AxonDendrites

Axon

Dendrite of receiving neuron

Neurotransmitters

‘Neurons that fire together wire together’

A Neuron

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 25: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Increased effectiveness – dendrites &synapsesMore effective transmission - myelinated axon

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 26: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Synaptogenesis & Apoptosis- developing, tuning and pruning our neuronal

networks• We are born with many more neurons

than we will ever need

• Genes, environment & experience effect the density of the neuronal networks

• As we develop and grow some networks are pruned

e.g. babies are tuned into every human sound but gradually “prune” out the ones not needed or

used for their “mother tongue”

‘Use it or loose it’, ‘Neurons that fire together wire together’

Page 27: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation
Page 28: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

What’s New in Neuroscience?

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 29: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The Connectome- neuronal network linking up the areas of brain

Denser network = quicker, faster, more reliable connections because ‘the sum of the parts is better than the parts

alone’

Page 30: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Plasticity –the ability to adopt and adapt to stimulus

Neuronal networks are continuously shaped by genetic, environmental and experiential stimulus and

strengthened through repetition. Brain plasticity reduces as we age

Page 31: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Mirror Neurones- encode information about the external world and goal-directed behaviour

They enable humans to emulate others and thereby empathise & understand intent– essential for the

socialization of children

Page 32: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Mirror neurons cont.• i.e. they help us to process information about the

intentionality of others’ actions and minds• 1 year olds are able to distinguish between goal-directed

behaviour and non-goal directed behaviour by humans

i.e. they don’t just copy mindlessly, they can infer people’s goal-directed actions and will selectively imitate others’

actions

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 33: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

CLIP – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiitEyfka00 (3min) 2013

clip : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1qUj3MuEc (4min) 2009http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oqU-MHTQjuY (3min) 2013

More clips - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOd3N20XNC4&feature=endscreen&NR=1. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7lXYwcRppI&feature=related -

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 34: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The Brain : “You get out what you put in”…

The more a pathway is used .. the more established it becomes .. the easier it

is the use .. and the more it will become the chosen route

Clip: Jeremy Holmes(5min)

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 35: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The Early Years- Windows of opportunity

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 36: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 37: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Development arises from the interplay- over a lifetime- of:

Genetic make up & maturation processesAutonomic nervous system response Learnt response ExperiencesEnvironmentsAttachmentsKnowledge and understanding26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 38: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Gene- environment interaction

Environment of relationships

Physical, chemical and built environments

Nutrition

Cumulative effects over time

Biological embedding during sensitive periods

Physiological adaptations & disruptions*

Health related behaviours

Educational achievement & economic productivity

Physical and mental health

Adult outcomes Lifelong outcomes

Foundations for healthy development & sources of early adversity

Biodevelopmental Framework: How early experiences get into our Body:, Shonkoff, 2010,pg.358

+

-

+

-

-

+

Page 39: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Activity: What do you think we need to develop and grow?

• Time• Teaching• Opportunity• Knowledge and

understanding • Security

Page 40: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Birth to 12 months old

Brain growth is unmatched. The most critical windows during this

stage are:

emotional development as the foundations for governing emotions are established through attachments

vision, Vocabulary

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 41: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

12 to 24 months old

At no other time is the brain so receptive

and responsive.

Many of the neurological connections that

govern a lifetime of skill and potential are

beginning to take shape. Children in this stage are gaining more

control of their bodies, and their motor skills are developing.

They are becoming more aware of other people’s feelings and beginning to

learn to share. Language and vocabulary remain

important. Attention should be given to maths and logic skills as well-holistic

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 42: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

2 to 5 years oldBy the age of three, much of a child’s brain

growth and density is almost complete-physical.The brain connections that will guide a child’s

development are already well established. There appears to be a connection between the

brain patterns stimulated by music and the part of the brain used to understand spatial concepts in maths.

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 43: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

5-10 yearsLearning from parents, peers and

educational settings- cultural influences

Gender awareness establishedDevelopment of friendship groupRecognition of rulesDevelopment of social skills to

accommodate difference and diversityDevelopment and articulation of logicAbility to combine knowledge sources

to create new 26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 44: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

11 to late teens• Moral maturation- Nb of changes

in frontal lobes• Selective/exclusive in friendships• Peer influence/ parental control

balance• Recognition of roles and rights• Puberty- hormonal fluctuations• Emotionally labile & exploration• Personal/group identity issues• Conform/ individuality

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 45: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Reflective Activity

• Share with your neighbour one thing that the session (so far) has confirmed/reinforced about your understanding of the brain, one new thing you have learnt and one thing you are going to research further

• Discuss how you might be able to use this knowledge in your work setting

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 46: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Windows of Vulnerability

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TDogqEmKSE&feature=related clip 1.30min what can happen

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 47: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Toxins can alter patterns of Neuron proliferation.

Many intrauterine and perinatal ‘insults’ can alter the migration of neurons and have a profound impact on functioning.

Examples include infection, lack of oxygen, malnutrition, psychotropic drugs, lead poisoning, ionising radiation and alcohol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG9EWzwi6J4 (clip =3min)

http://www.mencap.org.uk/FASD

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 48: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The neurobiological impact of abuse

Epigenetic effect. “When abuse occurs during the critical formative time when

the brain is being physically sculpted by experience, the impact of severe stress can leave an indelible imprint on its structure and function. Such abuse, it seems, induces a cascade of molecular and neurobiological effects that irreversibly alter neural development.” (Teicher,2002:54-61)

It can alter the function of genes for the following hormones: STRESS HORMONES OXYTOCIN RECEPTOR SEROTONIN RECEPTORS OESTROGEN RECEPTOR BRAIN GROWTH FACTOR

Page 49: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Epigenetics (cont.)• Genes are programmed to respond to external environment• Epigenetics = changes in gene activity that do not involve

alterations to the genetic code but can still get passed down to at least one successive generation

• These patterns of gene expression are governed by the cellular material — the epigenome — that sits on top of the genome

• Epigenome can tell your genes to switch on or off (gene expression) depending on the experiences we have

• Environment can make ‘imprint’ on epigenome

clip 2min http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/intro/

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 50: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The first relationships are important• Positive predictable

interactions with nurturing caregivers profoundly stimulate and organize young brains.

• The quality of early care giving has a long lasting impact on how people develop, their ability to learn, and their capacity to both regulate their own emotions and form satisfying relationships

Clip Harvard serve and return(2min) http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multimedia/videos/three_core_concepts/serve_and_return/

• .

Page 51: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Stresses that impact upon the Care- giving Relationship- Socio-demographic Factors

Chronic unemployment Inadequate income/housing Frequent moves/no telephone Low educational achievement Single teenage mother without

family support Violence reported in the family Severe family dysfunction Lack of support/isolation Recent life stress (e.g. bereavement,

job loss, immigration)

“What do you think will be the impact on

personal and community human

and social Capital?”

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 52: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Effects of maternal anxiety during pregnancy

• This doubles the risk of behavioural problems in both boys & girls at 4 & 7 years of age

• The chemical changes associated with even mild anxiety leads to raised maternal cortisol levels- which are passed through the placenta → raised cortisol in foetus.

• Cortisol in baby’s bloodstream is a trigger for premature delivery & causes intrauterine growth retardation 26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 53: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Cont.• Analysis of stress hormone levels in 10-

year-old children whose mothers suffered stress during pregnancy has provided evidence that prenatal anxiety may affect the baby in the womb in a way that carries long-term implications for well-being.

• The study suggests that foetal exposure to

prenatal maternal stress or anxiety affects a key part of their babies' developing nervous system; leaving them more vulnerable to psychological and perhaps medical illness in later life.

(O'Connor et al .2005)26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 54: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The context of parental depression and effect on infant security

Economichardship

Less sensitive interactions

Relationshipstress

Increase infrequency of

child punishment

Infantattachment

security

Page 55: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

2) In high-risk, low socio-economic status families, the rate of disorganised attachment in young children with depressed mothers has been estimated to be as high as 60%.

(Lyons-Ruth et al.1990)

3)Rates of insecure-disorganised attachment are higher in chronically depressed mothers than in those who are not chronically depressed.

(Teti et al. 1995)26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 56: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Effects of maternal mental illness on attachment patterns in their children.

It is IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER that when few other risk factors are present the compromising effect

of maternal depression can be minimized

When young children of mentally ill mothers are compared to index groups of children of non mentally ill mothers they have been found to have higher rates of disorganised / controlling attachment.

(DeMulder, & Radke-Yarrow, 1991)

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 57: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Lack of touch and interaction on the brain

These are PET scans of two three year olds; note the reduction in brain volume as a result of neglect

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 58: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 59: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Global Neglect & Reduced Brain activity.

The temporal lobes receive and integrate inputs from the senses, and combine them with deep primitive drives from the limbic system and brain stem. They deal with hearing, learning, memory skills and emotions.

P.E.T. scan of a typical two year old.

Page 60: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

PET scan of the brain of a Romanian orphan, who was institutionalised shortly after birth. It shows the effects of extreme deprivation in infancy.

‘Global neglect’ has resulted in atrophy of the unused and therefore ‘unnecessary’ areas.

NB: Use /abuse of scans

Page 61: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The infant has no comparisons, and family relationships are their world

Page 62: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

“You must be careful how you walk and where you go, for

there are those following you who will set their feet

where yours are set”

(Lee, no date, cited in Brodie, 2009: 14)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5wsbhRMGoo&NR=1&feature=

endscreen (clip children copy 1.30min)

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 63: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Attachment Related Trauma.

Severe traumatic attachments in the first two years of life results in structural limitations of the early developing right brain. This is the hemisphere that is dominant for:

Unconscious processing of social and emotional information,

The regulation of bodily states, The capacity to cope with emotional stress, The ability to understand the emotional states of

others (empathy)The sense of a bodily and emotional

self.26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 64: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Any experiences of prolonged and frequent episodes of intense and unregulated stress in babies and toddlers have devastating effects on the establishment of psycho-physiological regulation, (Vagal Tone) and

The establishment of trusting, stable and relationships in the first year of life is important.

clip on attachment issues 2 mins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDh1C-PubYQ.

Clip:Robert Balbernie

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 65: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Emotional Responses

Distress Fear Surprise Joy Disgust Anger

We are all born with them and we all feel them 26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 66: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Higher cognitive emotions

‘Softwired’, appear from toddlerhood, dependent on context, related to cognitive development

Envy Guilt Pride Shame

Page 67: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

What happens in and to our bodies ?Fight- Flight- Freeze

Response

To Fear, Excitement and Effort – it is a natural hormonal response to stress

Vagus Nerve Response It acts as a ‘brake’ on bodily

functions - it slows down the heart beat and helps return ‘all systems’ to ‘normal’

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 68: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Short term: Essential Long term: Damaging26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 69: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

The vagusNerve

When you need to concentrate

it has to be inhibited

The Vagal response

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 70: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Vagal Tone is how well our fight/flight response and vagus nerve are balanced

and work together

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 71: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

How is the Vagal Tone Activated?Via Soothing, Compassion and

Physical comfort

Empathy

We learn to self- soothe and

self- regulate from our

relationships with parents and

significant others -attachments

Vagal tone is partly genetic but

also a result of experiences and

environmental stimulus.26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 72: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Vagal Tone

Good Vagal Tone Highly responsive:

• Respond quicker, process information faster, concentrate better

• More appropriate and effective responses to stimuli

• Return faster to a normal ‘resting state’

Poor Vagal Tone Low responsiveness: • Responds and process

information not as quickly, less able to concentrate.

• Less appropriate and effective responses to stimuli

• Difficulty returning to normal ‘resting state

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 73: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Good Vagal Tone is linked to…

Better emotional balance

Clear thinking

Improved attention

More efficient immune system

Greater resilience

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 74: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

To support the development of a child’s Vagal Tone we need to provide…

Secure attachments and bases

Enabling environments Repeated opportunities to

share and learn Repeated opportunity to

recognise, practice and adapt behaviour

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 75: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Stress: Positive,Tolerable & ToxicPositive/healthy Stress

Some stress is a normal part of life. Learning how to cope with stress is an important part of development.

Tolerable/ manageable stress

More serious and prolonged, but is buffered by supportive relationships, human capital and supportive environments

The extent to which stressful events have lasting adverse effects is determined by: • Individual’s biological response mediated by both genetic predispositions•Availability of supportive relationships •The duration, intensity, timing, and context of the stressful experience.

Page 76: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Toxic Stress Constant activation of the body’s stress response

systems due to chronic or traumatic experiences in the absence of caring, stable relationships with adults, especially during sensitive periods of early development, can be toxic to brain architecture and other developing organ systems.

Connections in the brain are reduced and lost through toxic stress.

Less connections means it is more difficult to utilize the brain capacity and learn effectively

Clip: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multimedia/videos/three_core_concepts/toxic_stress/ (2min)

Toxic stress: fact sheet http://developingchild.harvard.edu/topics/science_of_early_childhood/toxic_stress_response/

Page 77: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Detrimental Early Experiences can lead to …

Learning difficulties Language delay Lack of empathy Hyperactivity/disruptive behaviour Distractibility Hypervigilence Poor impulse control Lack of compassion Correlation to adult borderline personality disorder,

multiple personality disorder (Balbernie, 2001,pg242) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG4Sejgtxgc clip negative impacts 4min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKU4pAs3A3c 57m toxic stress of early childhood

adversity 26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 78: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Resiliency

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 79: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

For pro-social behaviour…

• There needs to be many opportunities to share in empathetic and nurturing environments and experiences

• There needs to be opportunities to feel good about yourself, it’s not just not feeling bad about yourself that matters

26 November 2013 Masters BSU

Page 80: Attachment, Emotional Well-being and the Developing Brain Presentation

Children learn what they liveIf children live with criticism, they learn to

condemn.If children live with hostility, they learn to

fight.If children live with fear, they learn to be

apprehensive.If children live with pity, they learn to feel

sorry for themselves.If children live with ridicule, they learn to

feel shy.If children live with jealousy, they learn to

feel envy.If children live with shame, they learn to feel

guilty.If children live with encouragement, they

learn confidence.If children live with tolerance, they learn

patience.If children live with praise, they learn

appreciation.If children live with acceptance, they learn to

love.If children live with approval, they learn to

like themselves.If children live with recognition, they learn it

is good to have a goal.If children live with sharing, they learn

generosity.If children live with honesty, they learn

truthfulness.If children live with fairness, they learn

justice.If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about

them.If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live. Copyright © 1972 by

Dorothy Law Nolte (1924-1985) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/20/arts/20nolte.html

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Reference and Research• Balbernie, R. (2001) Circuits and circumstances: the neurobiological consequences of early relationship

experiences and how they shape later behaviour. Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 27 930, pp.237-255• Barnes, J. and Lagevardi-Freude, A. (2002) From pregnancy to early childhood: early intervention to

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Additional Resources

Dr Clyde Hertzman (4mins)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M89VFIk4D-s&feature=related

Attachment related trauma and mental health http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bul1meciGE 5min Teens and family attachment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1_mzacPIyc 5min Carter,R.(2010) Mapping the mind. London: Phoenix Conzolino,L. (2013) The social neuroscience of education.

New York: W.W. Norton & Company Siegel,D. (2012) The developing mind 2nd ed. New York:

The Guildford Press. Seung, S.(2012) Connectome. London: Allen Lane