ABSTRACT
Longitudinal studies of children’s brain development have given information about both the elementary child’s brain development and older age level aspects of brain development. During the elementary age period brain development is accompanied by growth in motor coordination, metalinguistic awareness, self-efficacy knowledge, and social competence. Although there has not been extensive research focused on the anatomical brain development of children older than 6, synaptogenesis, as measured by glucose metabolic rates, continues to occur throughout the 6–8 age period. Schooling appears to have an effect on memory skills and cognitive development, perhaps because children develop “meta” strategies that enable them to think about their learning abilities and to channel their learning. Just as a child’s unique neurocognitive makeup has an impact on academic performance, so too will it affect their social cognitive abilities. The slow maturation of the frontal lobe improves cognitive abilities, and some abilities seem to mature earlier than others.
