Parental Care and The Brain Many researchers have suspected that infants must benefit from the close physical attention of their caregivers, but the extent and nature of the benefit was unclear. Now an increasing amount of biological research on animals is determining that while a number of factors are vital for proper brain development, physical attention appears to play a role in maintaing brain chemistry, brain architecture and possibly some mental functioning. Researchers hope that …showed first 75 words of 3061 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3061 total…Some scientists also believe that the immature young brain may put kids at a disadvantage when they encounter situations involving alcohol. Possibly, their brains can't provide the foresight that they should avoid drinking because it's dangerous. Also, once experimentation begins, brain areas that make a person feel good and want to drink again may be in an underdeveloped state and more easily influenced. Overall, the research adds fire to an often-repeated message: Just say no.