Experiences on Brain Development (Trauma), Part 1
Experiences impact our mind and brain in ways of thought, perception, and memory. They are singularly intriguing and phenomenally heterogeneous in nature. About experiences you may wonder how powerful they are in shaping the brain. It is the consciously abrupt and intensely prolific experiences that most easily pervade and whose initially transient circuitries gradually become refined and emboldened. From what our selective mind chooses to perceive and cache, accrued jolts and jars of the unforeseen quickly overrule the predictively trivial and quotidian pathways related to experience. Features of experiences affectively rewire perceptual, cognitive, and emotional capabilities. In likeness to flight-driven biochemical pathways are their underlying physiological neural circuitries, which are ubiquitous to specific anatomical portions of the brain where propagated feedback, in-between and across mid-brain lobe centers, substantiates indelible effects. From thinking to doing to being, embryonic to adult, 3 regions central to mind-brain regulation, growth and development are impacted by experiences.
So far, in terms of trauma, studies have shown that increased frequency and nearness to acutely challenging experiences significantly increases accumulation and release of uncontrollably powerful glucocorticoids (e.g. Cortisol) that flush and strip structural resemblance of a once healthy and functional brain. A traumatic experiences can go beyond the immediate ‘feeling of despair’ characterization and delve into the subconscious and lay dormant intermittent despondence to near paralyzing triggers (e.g. PTSD). While mostly prehistorically best suited for escaping dumbbell sized incisors, response and reactionary behaviors are as advantageous in modern day with continually growing reports of adolescents experiencing their own predatory escape. What’s new is how deeply harmful and irreversible early childhood trauma subconsciously disrupts, deregulates and erodes initially productive cognitive functioning. With increase diminished wiring and firing, cross talk and neural plasticity even the most hopeful, persistent and courageous efforts to amend are likely unsuccessful. Severely emotionally distressing experiences quite literally asphyxiates typical growth and normal development of the Medulla, Limbic (Amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus) and Neocortical regions to the point of pruning and irreparable atrophy.
But this isn't to say that only traumatic experiences shape the brain. Positive experiences, as well, have an enormous impact on brain development and positive relationships can heal and mend the effects of trauma. In short, experiences starting from infancy are constantly wiring and rewiring the brain.
© 2022 Christopher Schroeder of New World Psychology, LLC.
