The Science Page
Learning how to be organised could be critical to brain development
Brain imaging shows a growth spurt of brain grey matter in youngsters. In girls, this peaks around age 11, whereas in boys it peaks around 12. These are averages. Obviously, we can expect some to develop earlier and some later. The area of growth is the frontal lobes. This is the front part of the brain.
Can being organised upgrade young brains?
Brain connections also become more efficient the more they are used. It makes good sense to use them at every opportunity. It will make the brain work better. There is a thinning out of grey matter after the growth spurt. Scientists do not know what accounts for this. They think that it may be similar to infant brain development. It could be a case of use it or lose it! The connections that get exercised are kept, while those that do not are lost.
This what the frontal lobes do:
- Goal initiating and setting
- Planning
- Sequencing
- Starting
- Shifts or transitions. This could be shifting from one situation or task to another. It could be making adjustments (such as using feedback to make changes and applying familiar learning to new situations)
- Organising
- Prioritising
- Self-monitoring (noticing how things are going and how you are doing in relation to your goals)
- Pace (speeding up or slowing down)
- Completing
If we think about what the frontal lobes do, then it is not surprising that some youngsters have difficulty organising themselves. Some of them are also likely to be late developers in terms of the brain growth spurt.
Disorganisation is a developmental issue for youngsters and they may become more organised as they grow older. Male brains develop later, which explains why more boys have problems with organisation. They can grow out of it, but it could have a bad effect on their education in the meantime.