How Brain Development Shapes Kids’ Behavior: The Role of the Basal Ganglia, Cerebellum, and Frontal Lobe
As parents, caregivers, or educators, it’s easy to see when a child is struggling with things like emotional control, focus, or balance—but what we don’t always realize is how much of this is tied to their brain development. The brain’s intricate system of connections influences how kids move, think, and behave. In this post, let’s take a closer look at three essential parts of the brain—the frontal lobe, basal ganglia, and cerebellum—and see how they affect your child’s everyday function.
Meet the Brain’s Key Players:
Frontal Lobe: The Brain’s “CEO”
The frontal lobe plays a crucial role in managing emotions, controlling behavior, focusing attention, and coordinating movement. It’s kind of like the CEO of the brain—overseeing all the major decisions and keeping things in check. For kids, a well-functioning frontal lobe is key to handling tough situations, staying calm, and completing tasks without getting distracted. If you notice your child is having trouble sitting still or controlling outbursts, there might be more going on with how their frontal lobe is working.
Basal Ganglia: The Brain’s Information Processor
Think of the basal ganglia like a central station for processing info. It takes signals from the frontal lobe and helps the brain manage things like attention, emotions, and motor skills. If this part of the brain isn’t working well, it might explain why some kids struggle with impulsivity, anxiety, or repetitive behaviors like tics or stimming (repeated movements). The basal ganglia’s job is all about keeping the brain in sync, but when it’s overwhelmed or “stressed,” kids can have a hard time managing intrusive thoughts or staying calm in stressful situations.
Cerebellum: The Body’s Movement Coach
The cerebellum is responsible for posture, balance, and smooth coordination. When kids are learning to ride a bike or play a sport, their cerebellum is working hard to help them master these motor skills. It also plays a role in emotional regulation, especially in how the brain connects movement and thought. If your child seems clumsy, has poor balance, or struggles with activities that involve coordination, their cerebellum might need some support.
The Connection Between These Brain Areas
Here’s where it gets even more interesting—these three brain areas are all closely linked. The basal ganglia sends and receives signals from the frontal lobe, acting like a “middle manager” for behavior and motor functions. When this communication breaks down, your child might experience challenges like trouble focusing or heightened anxiety.
The basal ganglia uses two main pathways: one that gets the brain ready for action (the direct pathway) and one that keeps unnecessary movements or thoughts in check (the indirect pathway). But when kids are stressed or overwhelmed, the indirect pathway might overact, leading to things like repetitive behaviors or tics.
How Therapy Can Help Balance the Brain
The good news is that there are ways to help improve these brain functions! Therapies that target the frontal lobe and cerebellum can have a positive effect on the basal ganglia. Activities like balance exercises, cognitive challenges (like memory games), and even sensory integration exercises can stimulate brain development. Another technique, laser therapy, is sometimes used to give the brain an extra boost in energy, helping with inflammation and boosting neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to rewire itself).
The Power of Vagal Stimulation
One of the body’s natural ways to calm the brain and body is through the vagus nerve, which is connected to several important brain areas. Stimulating this nerve can help reduce anxiety, improve focus, and promote a sense of safety and calm in kids. Techniques like deep breathing, certain exercises, or even specialized devices can help stimulate the vagus nerve.
In Conclusion
Understanding how the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and frontal lobe function gives us a better picture of how the brain impacts behavior and development. By supporting these key areas through therapeutic activities, we can help kids build better emotional control, focus, and coordination—setting them up for success both in school and in life. Whether through physical activities, brain exercises, or calming techniques, there are plenty of ways to nurture a child’s growing brain.
For further research that supports the understanding of brain development and how the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and frontal lobe impact children’s behavior, here are some scholarly articles offer detailed insights.
Baladron J, Vitay J, Fietzek T, Hamker FH (2023) The contribution of the basal ganglia and cerebellum to motor learning: A neuro-computational approach. PLOS Computational Biology 19(4): e1011024. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011024
Beuriat, PA., Cristofori, I., Gordon, B. et al. The shifting role of the cerebellum in executive, emotional and social processing across the lifespan. Behav Brain Funct 18, 6 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12993-022-00193-5
Clark, S.V., Semmel, E., Aleksonis, H. et al. Cerebellar-Subcortical-Cortical Systems as Modulators of Cognitive Functions. Neuropsychol Rev 31, 422–446 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-020-09465-1