Understanding Early Brain Development: When Do Babies Start to Think?

At birth, a critical brain structure is already in place. In just nine months, approximately 100 billion neurons develop from a mere 3-millimeter “neural tube,” forming a blueprint for the entire central nervous system.

This impressive neuron count is surpassed only by the 100 trillion connections they form, akin to a city’s subway system. “It’s designed efficiently to enhance functionality,” explains developmental neuroscientist Moriah Thomasson from New York University.

Shortly before birth, the brain exhibits a remarkable similarity to the adult brain, with the fetal connectome sharing 61% of the same functional organization. “It’s astonishing,” says Thomasson. However, the fetal brain should not be mistaken for a miniature adult brain. Some species, such as foals, are able to walk and feed shortly after birth. In contrast, humans experience significant dependency due to our extensive childhood.

“The unfinished nature of our brains is intentional; we need our environment to shape them,” remarks mind philosopher Timothy Bain at Monash University, Australia. “Evolution has equipped us to adapt to various languages; being born in a bilingual environment should not restrict our potential.”

Birth triggers significant transformations in the brain. “It’s almost overwhelming,” Thomasson notes. The newborn, reliant on the buoyancy of the womb, now faces gravity, temperature changes, and a deluge of new visual stimuli. Consequently, layered myelin sheaths form, enhancing connections across the nervous system and refining specialized brain networks. “These pruning processes intensify rapidly,” Thomasson remarks. “You’re solidifying connections.”

As development progresses, our skill in navigating the world becomes increasingly sophisticated, relying on foundational cognitive abilities. Initially, the brain distinguishes objects, tracking their movements and identifying faces and emotions. “Early recognition of emotions is crucial; it offers insights into others’ mental states,” Bain observes.

Brain imaging technology enables researchers to examine the formation and connectivity of brain networks in adults and fetuses alike. However, deciphering the implications for experiential development remains complex. Evidence of prenatal brain activity suggests some levels of consciousness may be present in fetuses. Bain proposes that while fragments of consciousness may exist, a true awareness does not emerge until exposure to the world post-birth.

Despite advancements in understanding brain biology’s role in conscious experience, philosophical debates around thought and consciousness persist. “Can thought exist without consciousness? Can consciousness exist independently of thought?” questions consciousness philosopher Philip Goff at Durham University, UK. Bain believes that thought is primarily about our interactions with the world. For instance, a few months after birth, a baby might exhibit unique actions to explore moving objects. “I wonder if the initial thoughts of a baby are tied to intentions or the joy of achieving them,” he muses.

The perspective that thought and consciousness do not manifest meaningfully until birth seems intuitive. However, cognitive scientist Anna Chaunika from the University of Lisbon warns that this view is biased and overly adult-centric. We often presume experience is rooted solely in the brain, overlooking the layers of full sensory interaction. Research indicates that sensory experiences integrate into a fundamental sense of self as early as the first trimester, Chaunika asserts. Interaction and learning form the core of experience and survival. The evolutionary origins of our neurons and the rapid specialization of our olfactory system during fetal growth underscore this. “Existence precedes knowledge,” she posits.

Ultimately, a fetus’s world is intertwined with its mother. “In the womb, we continuously engage with other beings,” Chaunika explains, noting research that indicates newborns cry distinctly if their mothers speak multiple languages. “Our first realization is, ‘I am not alone.'”