Michael C. Nagel

Moreover, given the rise in dominance of online social platforms in increasingly more aspects of day-to-day lives, it is important that society understand the generational impacts of screen-based social platforms.

In this provocative and informative book, Drs Rachael Sharman and Michael C. Nagel take the reader on a journey where nature and nurture intersect.Becoming Autistic reflects the concerns of the authors and numerous neuroscientists around the world that environmental impacts, like too much screen time and the lack of socialisation, have neurological consequences on the developing brain. The consequences of developmental changes in young people due to screen use are increasingly being expressed as psychological and behavioural changes that very much resemble known disorders such as autism spectrum disorder.This important book explores the pervasive impact of technology on the developing brains of young people. It raises questions regarding the trajectory of a generation that may be underdeveloped in aspects of interpersonal skills. Importantly, the authors offer practical ideas for ideas for correcting and changing the current course for many young people, so that subsequent generations can reshape the social norms and expectations of society and set new standards for a healthier outlook.

In the Middle: The adolescent brain, behaviour and learning explores current research into brain development in adolescence and the changes in the brain as humans move into adulthood. This book seeks to use neuroscience to help parents, teachers and adults better understand the changes that occur in the brain during the transition from childhood to adulthood. By understanding the science, we gain an opportunity to not only contribute positively to adolescent behaviour and learning but also enhance the day-to-day interactions and relationships that are vital to adolescent wellbeing.Following on from In the Beginning: The brain, early development and learning, In the Middle provides a wealth of information for a diverse readership - including health professionals, teachers and parents - with a shared interest in understanding the needs of young people and helping them realise their potential.Key features:Covers chronological development from pubescence to early adulthoodDraws on latest international research linking adolescent development and neuroscienceFocus on adolescent behaviour and how to understand and support adolescentsHighly accessible, engaging style that renders the science meaningful to a non-scientific market

The 90's was declared the "Decade of the Brain" and a flurry of research on brain development soon followed. The result: two decades on we now know more about the brain than we did since the first recorded writings 6000 years ago. Advances in technology and science have taught us a great deal and 'Nurturing a Healthy Mind' supports the growing consensus that research on brain development is relevant to parenting. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, parents and teachers are seeing the benefits of this research, with child rearing and education being shaped by new understandings of the human brain. It is becoming wider knowledge that the interactions between our genetic makeup, early experiences and environmental influences shape the architecture of the developing brain. And as such our understanding of the importance of the early years of life have, thankfully, received much greater attention and scrutiny. We are witnessing a tsunami of research, in conjunction with well-informed individuals, looking to ensure that all children receive the attention they need in their earliest days of life. 'Nurturing a Healthy Mind', with its easy-to-understand format, gives parents and early caregivers a great opportunity to tap into this research and provide the best environment possible for healthy child development.

In the Beginning explores, synthesises, and distills current knowledge of early childhood development at the nexus of neuro-scientific discovery. The book's premise - that the brain has a remarkable capacity to change - is underpinned by extensive empirical research. With a deft touch and clarity, In the Beginning explains how the environment, relationships, and care - provided in the earliest stages of life - will have a long lasting impact on children's capacity to regulate their emotional responses and, ultimately, reach their potential. Compelling, authoritative, and highly engaging, In the Beginning provides a wealth of information for a diverse readership (including teachers, health professionals, and parents) with a shared interest in how the mind works and how life's experiences can influence child development and learning. Highly topical and reflective, the book covers chronological development from conception to six years. It draws on the latest international research linking child development and neuroscience, and its engaging style renders the science meaningful to a lay audience.