Brain Rules for Baby (John Medina) / quote 5 of 91
Embryos still carry our evolutionary past
Fortunately, most babies’ brains form just fine. The brain end of the neural tube continues its construction project by creating bulges of cells that look like complex coral formations. These eventually form the large structures of the brain. Before the first month, the baby’s tiny pre-brain cell has grown into a hefty army, millions of cells strong. The brain does not develop in isolation, of course. The early embryo temporarily displays gill arches around the fourth week, for example, much like the ones fish have. These soon convert into face muscles and the throat structures that will allow your baby to speak. Your embryo next gets the stub of a tail but soon reverses course and resorbs the structure. There are strong evolutionary roots to our development, and we share this miracle with every other mammal on the planet. Except for one thing.