What's Going on in There?: How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life

Written by Lise Eliot, Ph.D.

Narrated by Cris Dukehart

As a research neuroscientist, Lise Eliot has made the study of the human brain her life's work. But it wasn't until she was pregnant with her first child that she became intrigued with the study of brain development. She wanted to know precisely how the baby's brain is formed, and when and how each sense, skill, and cognitive ability is developed. And most importantly, she was interested in finding out how her role as a nurturer can affect this complex process. How much of her baby's development is genetically ordained—and how much is determined by environment? Is there anything parents can do to make their babies' brains work better—to help them become smarter, happier people? Drawing upon the exploding research in this field as well as the stories of real children, What's Going On in There? is a lively and thought-provoking book that charts the brain's development from conception through the critical first five years. In examining the many factors that play crucial roles in that process, What's Going On in There? explores the evolution of the senses, motor skills, social and emotional behaviors, and mental functions such as attention, language, memory, reasoning, and intelligence. This remarkable book also discusses:

• how a baby's brain is "assembled" from scratch
• the critical prenatal factors that shape brain development
• how the birthing process itself affects the brain
• which forms of stimulation are most effective at promoting cognitive development
• how boys' and girls' brains develop differently
• how nutrition, stress, and other physical and social factors can permanently affect a child's brain

Brilliantly blending cutting-edge science with a mother's wisdom and insight, What's Going On in There? is an invaluable contribution to the nature versus nurture debate. Children's development is determined both by the genes they are born with and the richness of their early environment. This timely and important book shows parents the innumerable ways in which they can actually help their children grow better brains.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Mar 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452676791

Reviews for What's Going on in There?

[wassilissa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interessantes, wissenschaftlich korrektes Buch über Gehirnentwicklung bei kleinen Kindern. Manches war mir neu,´insgesamt hätte ich es mir ein bisschen systematischer gewünscht. Es lässt sich aber aufgrund des Plaudertons sehr gut lesen.

[justjill_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Written by a neuroscientist, this fascinating book describes how a baby's brain is formed and how each sense develops. She looks at the role genetics and environment play in brain development and discusses what parents can do to help their babies be smarter and happier. (Hint: breastfeed and get them piano lessons!)

[billrob_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really good information on where the brain capabilities are for the first years of life and how the senses all "turn on". Author did ignore and give abandoning single mothers a pass and didn't report on the outcome science with attachment that is published.

[arcticllama · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good and very thorough. It is packed with biology though, so if you are one of those, "Why does it have to sound so technical?" types, then find another book. Otherwise, a great way to know and understand what is going on development-wise with your baby's brain.

[daedalus_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While this is perhaps the best childhood development book I've come across, there remain aspects I would like to see improved upon.1: The author, herself a neurobiologist, alludes to the ever increasing body of data and our dawning comprehension of the human mind on several occasions. Yet, this book is now six years old with no update. This is inexcusable. I realize Mrs. Eliot leads a busy life as a mother, partner and researcher, but the least the editor could do is provide an additional chapter each year with the year's associated new insights.2: In this parenting & reading about parenting process, it's become obvious that the market bears out the truth that most parents are looking for an instruction manual. Specifically, they're looking for an instruction manual on how to make their kids more intelligent. One of the problems with this fixation is our societal tendancy to fall back on IQ as this measuring stick. This is precisely why our education system is now bogged down with (and probably doomed due to) standardized tests. Mrs. Eliot consistently reaffirms this fallacy. On multiple occassions she prefaces any IQ laden hypotheses and data with comments regarding it being a bad idea and as yet impossible to quantify intelligence; yet, without much background knowledge on the reader's part, these reservations can be quickly glossed over in light of the subsequent research presented. It would be nice to have this same book without all of the IQ data and inferences. Unfortunately, it might then lose its marketability in the American market.