The Newborn Brain

At birth, the brain of a child contains approximately **1 billion neurons** — a number equivalent to the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. These neurons combine to form nerves, and each nerve in the newborn's brain forms numerous connections with other nerves. The total number of inter-neuronal connections in early childhood reaches into the **trillions**. During this early period, profound developments occur in the child's brain as they begin to make sense of the world around them. Every sight, sound, smell, and touch is a signal that strengthens — or fails to strengthen — these neural connections.