The MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit of Southampton University analyzed the relationship between brain growth at various ages of pre- and postnatal life. They followed 221 9 year old children and their mothers, who took part in parenting and IQ tests. The children's head circumferences were measured at 18 weeks gestation, birth and 9 months of age.
Head growth was significantly greater in children whose mothers had a high IQ and received a high score on the parenting test. The group also found that children who were breastfed longest scored higher, and that children of mothers who were depressed post-partum scored lower.
There was however no relation between the IQ and the measurements of head size taken at 18 weeks gestation or at birth. These results suggest that brain growth during infancy and early childhood is more important than growth during fetal life in determining cognitive function. The more you play with, talk to, and teach your child during the 1st year of life makes a huge difference in every year after.
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3 comments:
That's so funny me and my kids have huge heads! hahahahaha
That's so funny. I've actually taken Jake to see the nurse because I thought his head was too big. (measured fine though) Now I won't worry so much about it!! lol
OMG Sara thats too funny!
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