News and Views from kSero
News on the Developing Brain	May 20, 2007
By Susan Hardwicke, Ph.D. kSero Centers for the Mind www.ksero.net
No surprise: physical evidence from a study at the National Institutes of Health reveals that the foundational structures for learning are near adult levels by age 11 or 12. The study, which evaluated only healthy children in a rigorous sampling method, has used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as measures of skills and intelligence at various ages to begin to map the physical development of brain structures and corresponding abilities over time. Previous research has shown that about age 11 the brain begins a "pruning" process, in which unused pathways of neurons are eliminated and existing, frequently used pathways are strengthened. Commentary: These early findings underscore the importance of elementary and middle school years for developing cognitive skills and abilities more than learning facts, and for parents to realize how much they can influence the development of their children's abilities. See kSero's cognitive skill model at this website. For more information on the NIH study, read on . . .