NEURAL PLASTICITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE 1ST 2 YEARS OF LIFE - EVIDENCE FROM COGNITIVE AND SOCIOEMOTIONAL DOMAINS OF RESEARCH

Three models that can be used to investigate the effects of different environmental events on brain development and organization are explore d. The insult model argues against brain plasticity, and the environme ntal model regards the brain as infinitely plastic. Our work is guided by the transactional model, which views brain development and organiz ation as an interaction between (a) genetically coded programs for the formation and connectivity of brain structures and (b) environmental modifiers of these codes. Data are reported from our cognitive and soc ioemotional research studies that support the notion of plasticity dur ing the first 2 years of life. From our work with normal developmental processes, we draw parallels to abnormal development and speculate ho w the transactional model can be used to explain abnormal brain organi zation and development.