pcplantdb

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>]

[Stephanie may be interested in this]

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4115915.stm>
        
Last Updated: Thursday, 23 December, 2004, 00:14 GMT
Toys have lasting impact on brain
Toys may play a crucial part in development
Toys that stimulate a young child's mind could permanently boost their brain 
function, according to research.
Scientists found skills learned very early in life may trigger permanent 
changes in the structure of the brain.
The findings, based on a study in owls, underline the importance of choosing 
the right toys for children, even at the earliest stages of life.
The study, by Stanford University, California, is published in the online 
edition of Nature Neuroscience.
This work shows the importance of investing in childhood experience.
Professor Eric Knudsen
So-called educational toys have been popular for many years, and most parents 
buy them to give their children a head start at school.
But the latest study shows they may also bolster the parts of the brain used 
to make decisions later in life.
Lead researcher Professor Eric Knudsen, an expert in neurobiology, said: 
"This work shows the importance of investing in childhood experience.
"Early learning can have long-lasting effects on the architecture of the 
brain."