ABSTRACT

A major brain development activity that begins about age 8 or 9 and continues until the late teens is synaptic pruning. Nelson and colleagues, who studied spatial working memory in children 8 to 11.6 years, found that it was localized primarily in the middle frontal gyrus, in the superior frontal gyrus, and in the left cingulate. Although male and female adult brains seem to show some differences, there are still relatively few differences seen in girls’ and boys’ brain structure and function in middle childhood. The middle school period is also a time when a number of brain-related concerns can emerge, most of which have both a genetic and an environmental component. There are some problems that may occur or become more noticeable during this age period, which are based on children’s previous developmental issues, such as cognitive impairments and/or emotional instabilities.