She then cut their brains into thin slices to count which group had the most branches. Not only did rats in the enriched environments grow more branches, but the deprived rats actually lost branches. Well, like these orphans in Romania, children deprived of stimulation, a variety of experience, and simple love and nurturing risk losing brain power early in life, and never catching up. And how important it is for parents to begin immediately talking, singing, even reading to their infants. Partly because of brain research, President Clinton is increasing money for head start, which for the first time will include babies and infants.
Brain science can also help millions of kids with learning disabilities.
Merzenich thinks brain science can help. His company, Scientific Learning, designs computer games to help build new connections in the brain so children like Lizzie can hear speech correctly. Contrary to popular belief, a healthy brain loses very few brain cells throughout life. So the brain is like a muscle in that sense. Marian Diamond tried super enrichment on some of her rats, and their brain connections actually grew more slowly.