I often look at newborns with amusement and wonder what they are thinking. I never stopped for a moment to think about the complex wiring of the brain. It is known that full brain development is necessary for a person's normal physical and mental processes, but I incorrectly assumed that this development was completed before birth. It is interesting to know that Dr. Harry Chugani, a pediatric neurobiologist at Wayne State University has given an amazing insight into the inside of an infant's head. We are able to see activities such as the retinal neuron making a connection with the visual cortex and the release of a brain chemical neurotransmitter when the ear neuron carries electrical sound and connects to another neuron in the auditory cortex of the baby. It is possible to see such a chemical process of the brain through the use of PET (position emission tomography). PET scans measure the functioning of distinct areas of the brain in detail. Dr. Chugani is also able to show how a baby's brain comes to life, like the 4th of July. The sky is filled with fireworks, just like a baby's brain with its activities in the brainstem and sensory cortex. The sparkling is the visual cortex which appears during the 2nd and 3rd months and up to six to eight months the frontal cortex. These signs indicate that the baby's brain is still developing. We tend to believe that the only thing happening outside the uterus is growth. With such complex and delicate activities taking place in the skull, it's a good thing we were taught to always protect a newborn's head, even if it was for the wrong reason. The brain is widely studied and already fifteen years ago, the Rethinking the Brain study made public by the Families and Work Institute, Neuro-Scientists believed that from birth the brain...... middle of paper. .....responsible for sight, hearing, emotions, functioning of the nervous system, memory, possible cognitive and language development. Parents also have special tasks. To begin with, it is important for mothers to take care of themselves during pregnancy, provide necessary nutrients and refrain from any bad substances. From the moment a child enters the world, the learning process begins. They are constantly learning about their surroundings and their experiences become important because these experiences will shape their personality later in life. Parents aren't scientists, but it's up to them to figure out how to use meaningful, positive experiences to shape the ones that are valuable to them. Parents should keep in mind that nothing is predetermined and view a child as a canvas ready to be worked on. It's up to the artist, the parent to create a masterpiece.