• Back in the day, we learned about brain development from post-mortem (dead) brains. Eek! 😬
• People thought size matters! Big brain = Big brains? Turns out, not quite.
  • Real-world example: Think of your brain like a city. It's not about how big the city is, but how efficient the roads (connections) are.

• Hello, tech! Brain imaging tech lets us spy on living brains in almost real time. Super cool!
• Just like how Instagram lets us see life through filters, brain imaging methods give different views. Dive deeper in Unit 2!

Chugani used PET scans (like taking brain selfies) to see which parts of babies' brains use energy (glucose metabolism).

• For 0-1 month-old babies: The busy areas are for basic stuff like seeing, moving, hearing.
• 2-4 months-old: "Upgrade unlocked!" Now, they get better at tasks like connecting what they see and where it is.
• 8-12 months-old: Frontal cortex joins the party! This is like the control center for complex actions.

Real-world example: Think of the brain like a software update. Every few months, new features are added!

• The sad part: Orphans in Romanian orphanages in the 1980s had pretty rough starts.
  • Many spent 20 hours/day alone! Imagine being stuck in your room all day. 😟
• Chugani used PET scans on kids adopted in the US.
  • Findings: Even though they "caught up" in their new homes, their brains showed signs of early stress, especially in key areas like the prefrontal cortex (the decision-making hub).
  Real-world example: Plants need the right environment to grow. Kids, like plants, can't thrive if they're not nurtured right.