Mead Johnson | Brain Series

To be able to better support your child’s brain development, it may be helpful to understand how it occurs.

A baby is born with billions of neurons, or brain cells. There are 2 main stages of brain development: the development of synapses (connections) and neural transmission (communication).

What are the roles of these two stages in a child’s brain development?

1st stage - Brain cell CONNECTION
During the first stage, brain cells form synapses, which are the junctions between the ends of 2 brain cells that enable them to transmit signals or communicate. By the time your child is 2 – 3 years old, a single brain cell may connect with as many as 15,000 other brain cells¹.

2nd stage – Brain cell COMMUNICATION
The other stage which is neural transmission, occurs most rapidly during childhood and continues throughout one’s life. Information is processed and stored by the transmission and receiving of electrical signals, or impulses. This is when learning and memory begins.

It has been found that DHA promotes the structural integrity of brain cells, supporting efficient communication between brain cells which is crucial for learning and memory in a child².

Here’s an interactive diagram to aid you in understanding brain cell communication in a child’s brain.

*Please note that this is a simplified visual demo only intended to aid in the understanding of the subject matter.

Each brain cell is specialized in the processing and transmission of signals, as demonstrated above. The brain cell receives signals at its dendrites, which is processed in the cell body and then sent out to other brain cells along the axon. The axon has terminals, each with a synapse. Brain cells communicate with other brain cells through these synapses.

Thousands of brain cells communicate with other brain cells to form an amazing network of neural pathways – sometimes referred to as the brain’s “wiring” or “circuitry”. Repeated stimulation, such as when a child does the same things repeatedly, will lead to more efficient communication.

There are many nutrients that support brain development, like DHA which is an important structural component in the brain. It helps to promote the integrity of neural membranes and plays a role in the effective storing of neurotransmitters, which transfer signals between brain cells. Read the full abstract of a study on DHA and brain development.

What is the role of DHA in brain cell communication?


	1. Early brain development 2. Brain development: What we know about how children learn 3. A parent’s guide to early brain development

1.	The Bridges Project. “A Bridge To Reading: What Families Need To Know ". http://www.mpt.org/learningworks/bridgetoreading/payoff/howwelearn2.cfm. Accessed April 25, 2008.
2.	Innis S. Dietary n3 fatty acids and brain development. J of Nutr 2007; 137: 855-859


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