ABSTRACT
The process of development in infancy seems magical. Traumatic or pleasant experiences are imprinted on the brains of tiny infants, working hand in hand with unpredictable physiological changes, for the better or for the worse. As the number of connections decreases, the density of the complex and powerful wiring system is reinforced in the baby's brain by the quality and content of the emotional surroundings. Neurobiologists show that the wiring is related directly to the quality of the parent– infant relationship, the kind of care the baby receives, and the quality of the baby's attachments with its parents and others. The human competence of the neonate is further indicated by its recognition, acquired in utero, of the voice of its mother, as can be demonstrated by the infant orientating itself towards her and by its attentiveness, and then recognizing her smell and touch.
