The neurological development of the child with the educational enrichment in mind

Early life events can exert a powerful influence on both the pattern of brain architecture and behavioral development. The paper examines the nature of nervous system plasticity, the nature of functional connectivities in the nervous system, and the application of connectography to better understand the concept of a functional neurology that can shed light on approaches to instruction in preschool and primary education. The paper also examines the genetic underpinnings of brain development such as synaptogenesis, plasticity, and critical periods as they relate to numerosity, language and perceptual development. Discussed is how the child's environment in school and home interact with and modify the structures and functions of the developing brain. The role of experience for the child is to both maintain and expand the child's early wiring diagram necessary for effective cognitive as well as neurological development beyond early childhood. (C) 2015 Colegio Oficial de Psicologos de Madrid. Published by Elsevier Espafia, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.