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The Developing Brain and Trauma

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Training for Change

Abstract

This chapter explores on brain development , potential insults to normal development, and behavioral correlates. When the brain is ready to develop in a certain area, but the needed stimulus is not present, then normal development does not happen. We examine emerging studies that have demonstrated the impact of the external environment (experienced as stress) on genes, brain development , and behavior . Factors like maternal inflammation, poverty, poor nutrition, racism, toxic stress , and substance use have been shown to negatively impact brain development . If every system that served youth from the pediatrician’s office, schools, juvenile justice , families, health care, etc. considered factors that support healthy brain development , they could powerfully change and shape behavior .

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Correspondence to Alisha Moreland-Capuia .

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Moreland-Capuia, A. (2019). The Developing Brain and Trauma. In: Training for Change. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19208-2_1

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