The Spark of Dreams: Unveiling Newborn Brain Development

Immerse yourself in the amazing world of early development, where every minute of sleep serves as a powerful catalyst for shaping and refining the brain. During this exciting time—when a newborn enters the dreaming phase—there is an active emergence and development of nerve cells, giving the baby’s neural network a robust kickoff. Imagine: in one small area of the brain at 24 weeks of life, up to 70,000 new nerve cells can be discovered—a true fireworks display of biological processes! It is precisely this sleep phase that sparks development, preparing the infant for future achievements by laying a solid foundation for intellectual and physical growth. Note that despite the apparent simplicity of sleep, it is in this moment that the foundations of the brain’s most complex structures are established, making our world brighter and more efficient with every breath and every sleep.

How is the sleep phase, characterized by specific physiological and psychological features, called?

The sleep phase mentioned in the provided quote is called the “dreaming phase.” One excerpt describes in detail how the newborn’s brain is actively forming and developing during this period: “...and this happens mainly during the sleep phase that appears for the first time at this time. For newborns, it is simply a period of sleep, the dreaming phase...” (source: link txt).

Thus, considering the description of physiological changes and information processing, this sleep phase can confidently be named the dreaming phase.

Supporting citation(s):
“If we took, at 24 weeks of life, a small piece of brain the size of a pinhead, we would find almost 70,000 nerve cells there... And this happens mainly during the sleep phase that appears for the first time at this time. For newborns, it is simply a period of sleep, the dreaming phase.” (source: link txt)

The Spark of Dreams: Unveiling Newborn Brain Development

How is the sleep phase, characterized by specific physiological and psychological features, called?