Lesson 2: Building Bonds and Brains: How Brain Development is Shaped by Attachment

 

 "No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship." - Dr. James Comer

Connect the Dots

Lyneia: The family of origin I was raised in had attachment styles different from what is described as a healthy attachment in the world of social science and research. I was very codependent with my mother, and a little more detached from my father. My mother's and father’s relationship with each other was not a healthy one. From this, what I observed about significant other attachment, and what I formed within my own attachment to my parents set me up in ways I needed to heal later in life. This included developing attachments with others in the context of friendships. As I grew, it began to include romantic relationships. The attachment that my siblings had with my parents was different with each child. This has influenced each of us developmentally. Some shared a healthier attachment style, and some had a very unhealthy attachment. Studying more about development and attachment, I can see how this has played a significant role in our lives and relationships with others. I can see ways each of us has had to heal and are still healing, within the context of relationships and development.

As I grew into adolescence, attachment and development began to have a greater effect. I started to struggle with panic attacks when I was separated from my mother. I felt the need to have validation from outer sources as a means to understand more of who I am. This can be healthy to some extent, but relying on this as a main source of validation can be extremely unhealthy, especially within the crucial years of brain development. Every case is different. There are many elements in the psychology of development and attachment because human beings are complex. For me, the lack of control I felt in my life and the need for validation led to my developing an eating disorder and anxiety. This led to issues with self-medication as I went into my adolescent years. Further developmental delays occurred within social contexts because I needed substances and other compulsive behaviors to help me with the anxiety and insecurity I felt within social relationships. Neurological studies have shown that the brain continues to develop in major ways until an individual is in their mid-twenties. The brain is adaptable and can heal because of neuroplasticity. Attachment’s integration with development is crucial. Humans are social creatures. We need attachment to develop in the healthiest ways possible. Our early attachment sets the tone for our development and future relationships. As we choose to put in the effort to heal old wounds, we can impact the roles we play in our own lives. As I have become aware of this knowledge, I have invited major insight and healing into my life. As this lesson progresses, I invite you to ponder what roles you play in your relationships. This could include as a significant other, daughter/son, sibling, friend, and last and perhaps the most important, as a parent. How does your early attachment apply to your attachment with your children? What goals do you feel inspired to make after understanding the basics of brain development and attachment?

Getting to the Root: Learning Goals

• Understand basic parts of the brain and their functions.
• Understand the basics of brain development.
• Understand how attachment is related to development.
• Understand your roles within relationships, and how your attachment style affects each of those roles.

Brain Development

Infancy and Childhood

Infancy and childhood are critical times for a developing brain. Growth and development are tightly associated with early attachment experiences. The bonds between infant and parents will set the stage for further emotional and cognitive growth, which will impact future mental health and relationships. 

Before birth and throughout early childhood, the brain grows and develops very quickly. Both environment and experience shape the architecture of the brain. Secure attachment to a responsive, loving parent stimulates neural pathways that lead to successful emotional regulation, cognitive function, and social skills. Research on attachment and brain development gives insight into how this occurs. Stability, nurturing, love, and trust help neural connections called synapses to form. These synaptic connections make networks that produce healthy brain activity such as memory and learning. Doctors Daniel Siegel and Tina Bryson (2020) explain that the best indicator of emotional well-being is secure attachment because it allows the brain to grow interconnectedly. Interconnectivity supports children and adults in understanding their own emotions rather than avoiding them. 

According to developmental research, “children have brain circuitry to ensure attachment to their caregiver (Sulivan, 2012).” Attachment serves many purposes. Two of the most important are that the child remains within the proximity of a caregiver to ensure basic survival. And second, creating a foundation for programming the brain to expect care, safety, and trust. This continues later in life, as attachment and development grow.

Brain development stems from genes and how those genes are affected by environmental factors. This is known as epigenetics. We are all born with genes inherited from our parents of origin. The environment impacts how those genes are revealed and how they alter brain structure.

Here is a video for a basic understanding of the milestones of brain development. (CNN, 2014). 

Video: Brain Development (CNN, 2014)  

Parts of the brain and brain development

Figure 1

Brain Development: How you can help your child learn and grow.

Note. Brain structure during the sensitive period. The brain grows and changes throughout a lifetime.

Adolescent to Adult

According to Moretti and Peled (2004), "Adolescent-parent attachment has profound effects on cognitive, social, and emotional functioning. Secure attachment is associated with less engagement in high-risk behaviors, fewer mental health problems, and enhanced social skills and coping strategies." “Adolescence has also been recognized as a “second major window of opportunity and risk in development.”

The prefrontal cortex is one of the last parts of the brain to reach maturity. It continues to develop well into adulthood. This is the part of the brain that makes us the most human. Cognitive function and judgment of our experiences and surroundings are centered here. During adolescence, hormonal changes integrate with the choices we make. These, and other changes in chemical structure within the brain, set the foundation for our capacity for regulation into adulthood. These neurological factors are greatly shaped by experience. This includes attachment and the need for the security of healthy attachment. 

Video: Explaining more about adolescent brain development, and how environmental factors impact brain development (American Psychological Association, 2022).

https://youtu.be/vLjcV3RXf7k?si=Y1PeSkv4GCxMqB9n

 Figure 2

The Adolescent Brain

Note. Parts of the brain. Executive function increases as we grow into adulthood. Before that, we are more sensitive to rewards and less sensitive to consequences.

Figure 3

Maturation of the Adolescent Brain

Note. Many internal and external factors impact brain development.

Video: Hand Model of the Brain (Marshall, 2024)

 After reading Lyneia's personal experience and learning about brain development and structure, consider what roles you play in your relationships. How has attachment impacted your development and your relationships?

Getting to the Root: Challenges

• Teach someone the brain/hand model.
• Ponder the ways that you developed because of your early attachment.
• Set a goal to notice times you need to put the lid on your brain.
• Find one way to put the lid on. This could be exercise, deep breathing, walking, journaling, grounding exercises, meditation, or being in nature. 

References

American Psychological Association. (2022, June 14). What has neuroscience revealed about the adolescent brain? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLjcV3RXf7k

CNN (2014). How babies’ brains develop. How baby brains develop (youtube.com)

Karuny. (2022, May 3). James P. Comer. Pedagogy4Change. https://www.pedagogy4change.org/james-p-comer-significant-learning/

Moretti, M. M., & Peled, M. (2004). Adolescent-parent attachment: Bonds that support healthy development. Paediatrics & child health, 9(8), 551–555. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/9.8.551

Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2020). The power of showing up: How parental presence shapes who our kids become and how their brains get wired. Ballantine Books.

Sullivan R. M. (2012). The neurobiology of attachment to nurturing and abusive caregivers. The Hastings law journal, 63(6), 1553–1570. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774302/#:~:text=Children%20have%20brain%20circuitry%20to,through%20most%20of%20early%20life.