The Importance of Nurture in Brain Development

Nature vs. nurture has been a long-standing debate when it comes to understanding human behavior and development. However, according to Lisa Feldman, a renowned scientist in psychology and neuroscience, this debate is flawed. Humans have genes that require learning and nurture for optimal brain development. A baby's brain is not a miniature adult brain, but rather an organ that needs instructions from the world and the body to wire itself properly. The absence of nurture, as seen in cases like the Romanian orphanages, leads to significant developmental issues in language, self-regulation, and behavior control. Poverty also hampers brain development irreversibly, highlighting the need for optimal nurturing conditions in every child's life.