Chapter 3
Experience-based Brain
Development: Scientific
Underpinnings of the Importance
of Early Child Development in a
Global World
J. Fraser Mustard*
The evolution of the human species over the past 200,000 years led
to the Agricultural Revolution 10,000 years ago, the beginning of our
experiments in civilizations, and an increasing capability to inno-
vate, communicate with others, and create, in many regions, reason-
ably stable, prosperous, and democratic societies. Today we face the
challenges of population growth, aging societies, population migra-
tion, climate change, and constraints on resources (energy, water, and
food) necessary to sustain life. In the past when societies could not
meet the challenges to sustain prosperous, healthy societies, the civi-
lizations tended to regress or collapse.
Today more than in any other period in our existence, we have a
better understanding of factors that influence the health, well-being,
43- J. Fraser Mustard, M.D., Ph.D., is Founding President, Canadian Institute for Ad-
vanced Research, The Founders’ Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This chapter is
adapted from a larger paper, entitled Early Child Development and Experience-based
Brain Development: The Scientific Underpinnings of the Importance of Early Child Develop-
ment in a Globalized World, Final Paper Version: February 2006. Washington, D.C.:
The Brookings Institution. The full paper with references is available at http://
[http://www.brookings.edu/views/papers/200602mustard.htm](http://www.brookings.edu/views/papers/200602mustard.htm>) and http://www.founders.
net/. Detailed references are contained in The Brookings Institution paper.