Please write a review of the summary and reflection below:
Summary:
By studying a group of adults who have in their childhood endured poverty, abuse, or neglect, epigenetic have seen results that point to environmental stress having part in the evolution of the brain. Because the brain is not fully formed until childhood, discomfort can stimulate the cortisol levels to become overactive which causes the brain responses to be different than those who don't experience these things. Their differing functions include social interactions, judgement, articulation, and processing the world around them. When a child is constantly in crisis mode their brain never has a chance to build up a defense system or learn how to self regulate their stress in the body and mind. This can effect their performance at school. Attempts to provide care fo these children is underway through institutions such as universal prek. The bottom line is poverty or neglect in early childhood has outcomes that lead to more disease and mental health therefore proving environmental factors play a large part in how the brain grows and works differently than someone in another setting.
Reflection
This article mentions that one way to lower the cortisol levels is by providing the child a caring, healthy relationship. To me this suggests that teachers or caretakers are given a huge weight to carry. To connect with each child in a way that helps them lower their stress levels could counteract the suffering they are facing mentally or physically at home. Will the child's health and mental outcome be in danger then if they live in poverty but have a loving and caring environment? The cortisol plays a significant role in the building blocks of our biological make up. The environmental modifications to the DNA are temporary and can be relieved. Epigenetic refers to "an attachment" to the DNA not a permanent sequence change. There is also the idea from the article in the link below that states we need an outlet for the everyday stress or a way to "flee or fight" otherwise it will negatively impact the brain response system resulting in depression and other mental disorders.