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Early Neurological Stimulation
By Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia
Surprising as it may seem, it isn't capacity that
explains the differences that exist between individuals because most seem to
have far more capacity than they will ever use. The differences that exist
between individuals seem to be related to something else. The ones who achieve
and outperform others seem to have within themselves the ability to use hidden
resources. In other words, it's what they are able to do with what they have
that makes the difference.
In many animal breeding programs, the entire process of selection and management
is founded on the belief that performance is inherited. Attempts to analyze the
genetics of performance in a systematic way have involved some distinguished
names such as Charles Darwin and Francis Galton. But it has only been in recent
decades that good estimates of heritability of performance have been based on
adequate data. Cunningham, (1991) in his study of horses, found that only by
using Timeform data, and measuring groups of half brothers and half sisters
could good estimates of performance be determined. His data shows that
performance for speed is about 35% heritable. In other words, only about 35% of
all the variation that is observed in track performance is controlled by
heritable factors, the remaining 65% is attributable to other influences, such
as training, management and nutrition. Cunningham's work while limited to
horses, provides a good basis for understanding how much breeders can attribute
to the genetics and the pedigrees.
Researchers have studied these phenomena and have looked for new ways to
stimulate individuals in order to improve their natural abilities. Some of the
methods discovered have produced life long lasting effects. Today many of the
differences between individuals can now be explained by the use of early
stimulation methods.
Introduction
Man for centuries has tried various methods to improve performance. Some of the
methods have stood the test of time, others have not. Those who first conducted
research on this topic believed that the period of early age was a most
important time for stimulation because of its rapid growth and development.
Today, we know that early life is a time when the physical immaturity of an
organism is susceptible and responsive to a restricted but important class of
stimuli. Because of its importance many studies have focused their efforts on
the first few months of life.
Newborn pups are uniquely different from adults in several respects. When born,
their eyes are closed and their digestive system has a limited capacity
requiring periodic stimulation by their dam who routinely licks them in order to
promote digestion. At this age they are only able to smell, suck, and crawl.
Body temperature is maintained by snuggling close to their mother or by crawling
into piles with other littermates. During these first few weeks of immobility,
researchers noted that these immature and under-developed canines are sensitive
to a restricted class of stimuli which includes thermal and tactile stimulation,
motion and locomotion.
Other mammals such as mice and rats are also born with limitations, and they
also have been found to demonstrate a similar sensitivity to the effects of
early stimulation. Studies show that removing them from their nest for three
minutes each day during the first five to ten days of life causes body
temperatures to fall below normal. This mild form of stress is sufficient to
stimulate hormonal, adrenal and pituitary systems. When tested later as adults,
these same animals were better able to withstand stress than littermates who
were not exposed to the same early stress exercises. As adults, they responded
to stress in "a graded" fashion, while their non-stressed littermates responded
in an "all or nothing way."
Data involving laboratory mice and rats also shows that stress in small amounts
can produce adults who respond maximally. On the other hand, the results
gathered from non-stressed littermate show that they become easily exhausted and
are near death if exposed to intense prolonged stress. When tied down so they
were unable to move for twenty-four hours, rats developed severe stomach ulcers,
but litter mates exposed to early stress handling were found to be more
resistant to stress tests and did not show evidence of ulcers. A secondary
affect was also noticed.
Sexual maturity was attained sooner in the littermates given early stress
exercises. When tested for differences in health and disease, the stressed
animals were found to be more resistant to certain forms of cancer and
infectious diseases and could withstand terminal starvation and exposure to cold
for longer periods than their non-stressed littermates.
Other studies involving early stimulation exercises have been successfully
performed on both cats and dogs. In these studies, the Electrical Encephalogram
(EEG) was found to be ideal for measuring the electrical activity in the brain
because of its extreme sensitivity to changes in excitement, emotional stress,
muscle tension, changes in oxygen and breathing. EEG measures show that pups and
kittens when given early stimulation exercises mature at faster rates and
perform better in certain problem solving tests than non-stimulated mates.
In the higher level animals the effect of early stimulation exercises have also
been studied. The use of surrogate mothers and familiar objects were tested by
both of the Kelloggs and Dr. Yearkes using young chimpanzees. Their pioneer
research shows that the more primates were deprived of stimulation and
interaction during early development, the less able they were to cope, adjust
and later adapt to situations as adults.
While experiments have not yet produced specific information about the optimal
amounts of stress needed to make young animals psychologically or
physiologically superior, researchers agree that stress has value. What also is
known is that a certain amount of stress for one may be too intense for another,
and that too much stress can retard development. The results show that early
stimulation exercises can have positive results but must be used with caution.
In other words, too much stress can cause pathological adversities rather than
physical or psychological superiority.
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