Environmental and

Chemical Factors
Christeena Williamson
EDU 417 Cognitive Studies Capstone
Instructor Dr. Joanna Savarese-Levine
August 15, 2016

BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
Brain development can be
hindered or changed as a result of
genetic and environmental
influences. Understanding how
the brain is influenced will help
instructors to best help the
students in their learning process.

NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Dopamine
Too much brings
about schizophrenia,
too little is
Parkinsons

Serotonin
Lack of can bring
about depression
and anxiety

Acetylcholine
Memory can be
impacted

Studies have shown that nicotine disrupts the normal

flow and function between the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine and the receptors acetylcholine. Fetal
developmental problems can come about from nicotine
(Jiayue, Pengjie, Qinqin, Lingjun, Jiaqi, & Zhice, 2015).
There is also a more intense response to nicotine in
adolescents than with adults (Wolfe, 2010). Alcohol can
also inhibit learning and memory. It disrupts the
hippocampus part of the brain. Studies showed that the
hippocampal volume was smaller when abused during
adolescence. The size will continue shrink with
continued abuse (Wolfe, 2010).

LEARNING AND MEMORY

How different substances can alter the brain function

MOVEMENT
Parkinsons patients lose their ability to move
their body properly due to a dopamine deficiency
in the basal ganglia (Hohee & Eunjung, 2015).
This will cause damage that will effect their
movement. There are medication that will help
replace the dopamine. This is not a cure, but will
help to give more quality of life.
A very small percentage of Parkinsons is genetic.
Research has found that environmental factors
like toxins and injury can bring about the disease.

SLEEP
With the lack of
acetylcholine, a
person will
develop
dementia. This
will bring about
a great deal of
restlessness.

Nutrition is important in the

brain development and
function. In 1989 there was
a study that linked higher
standardized test scores
with a good school
breakfast.
Most of the
neurotransmitters in the
brain are made up of amino
acids. We get these amino
acids from the food we eat.
What we eat will affect how
efficient our brain functions
(Wolfe, 2010).

NUTRITION

TECHNOLOGY
Technology has
negatives and
positives. The effects
depend on the
content, age of child,
and amount exposed.
A program FastForward
was developed to help
students increase their
reading abilities.
There has been
success with this
program (Wolfe, 2010).

NEUROPLASTICITY
Neuroplasticity is when the brain is able to
see a problem and will reorganize things by
forming new neural connections. The
neurons in the brain will compensate for a
disease or injury that has occurred.
This also occurs while a child is growing, and
the brain is developing. The malleability of
the brain is greater within a younger brain
than it is with an older one. Neuroplasticity
can occur at any age (Wolfe, 2010).

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
NEUROCHEMICAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
NEUROCHEMICAL

Parkinsons disease
Schizophrenia
Depression
Epilepsy

ENVIRONMENTAL

Stress
Malnourished
Environmental Toxins
Alcohol

Good nutrition
Proper technology
Enough sleep
Support from instructors
Communication between
home and school
SUPPORT IN AND OUT OF THE
CLASSROOM

REFERENCES
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Progressive models of Parkinsons disease : behavioural and neurochemical
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