A person’s brain does not fully develop until their mid to late 20s as the physical size of the brain grows and neural pathways within the brain emerge and strengthen.
Maturity, judgment, insight, and intelligence develop from childhood to adolescence. The structural development of the brain during this period enhances learning skills and reasoning abilities. Different life experiences can also enrich or disrupt the progression of brain development.
Each part of the brain matures at a different rate, and sex hormones can influence brain development between different sexes.
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brain development rate
Different parts of the brain grow and mature at different rates, and life experiences can help promote or inhibit the maturation of certain parts of the brain. Brain development occurs most rapidly between the prenatal period (before birth) and eight years of age, when neural pathways develop and strengthen.
men vs women
The direction of hormones in brain development is slightly different for men and women. These differences affect the growth rate of different brain regions.
Evidence suggests that, on average, the frontal cortex (which promotes self-control) and the amygdala (which controls emotional recognition) may develop faster in women. Gender differences in brain development also affect neurotransmitters. These are chemicals that activate and inhibit nerve cells in the brain and throughout the body.
Notes on gender and sex terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but not the same. To accurately reflect the source, this article uses the terms used by the source, such as “woman,” “man,” “woman,” and “man.”
part of the brain
Research using brain imaging studies has revealed a wealth of information about the function of different areas of the brain, including the definition of hundreds of pathways that perform specific tasks.
The major brain areas include:
Amygdala: This region near the hippocampus is involved in emotions. Brainstem: This region regulates breathing and relays communication between the lobes of the brain and the spinal cord. Cerebellum: This region of the brain is located near the lower back of the brain and interacts with the cerebral cortex and brainstem to maintain balance and coordination of movement. Frontal Lobe: The front part of the brain makes up about one-third of the brain. This area controls personality, thinking, organization, and behavior. Hippocampus: This small area behind the frontal lobe is associated with memory. Motor strip: This area is located at the back of the frontal lobe and controls the initiation of voluntary movements. Occipital Lobe: Located at the back of the brain, the occipital lobe is responsible for visual perception and understanding. Parietal lobes: The left and right parietal lobes control language use and spatial orientation (understanding three-dimensional space). Prefrontal cortex: This region is located in the front of the frontal lobe and controls planning and maintenance of social interactions. Temporal Lobe: The temporal lobe is located on the side of the brain, above the ear, and is involved in language and hearing.
These brain regions physically grow at roughly the same rate, and the neural pathways between different regions strengthen as the child learns to perceive and react to the environment while developing motor skills, learning skills, and social skills. will be done.
How the brain develops
Brain development involves several different components that contribute to healthy structure and function. Although brain maturation facilitates skill development, it can also inhibit the ability to learn new skills.
Brain development includes:
Blood vessel development: Brain tissue requires oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients, which are delivered through the bloodstream in the brain. As the brain expands, blood vessels develop, supplying all areas of the brain with these important nutrients. Strengthening of pathways and canals: Nerves communicate with each other through electrical signals. As the child grows, the signals in these pathways develop and strengthen. Myelination: This fatty substance surrounds and protects nerve cells and allows signals to pass from one nerve to another. Increase in physical size: As children grow older, their brains and skulls grow along with the rest of their bodies. Local neuron proliferation: As the brain grows, new nerves emerge along with brain tissue that protects them.
A rich learning environment, social support, and practice can help strengthen the pathways between these different brain regions. Adverse events can lead to stress and interfere with healthy brain development.
Why brain development is not completed during adolescence
Communication between different nerves within the pathway activates the brain and coordinates perception, thinking, movement, and response to the world around you. Many of the pathways begin functioning at a very early age.
For example, walking requires a high degree of interplay between perception, balance, coordination, and coordination. This path is constructed almost instinctively as children learn to walk.
Neural pathways in the brain, technically called neural tracts, are strengthened by repetitive activity. Skills like drawing, writing, playing music, and socializing continue to improve through repeated practice and learning from mistakes.
Brain ‘rewiring’ process continues until age 25
Life skills are easily acquired and honed in your mid to late 20s. With conscious effort and intention, older adults can continue to learn and hone entirely new skills. The ability to acquire and improve skills through the brain is called neuroplasticity. In general, neuroplasticity slows down with age, but it does not stop completely.
Adversity in life affects people differently at different ages, perhaps due to the stage of brain development at the time the traumatic event occurs. These effects can be mediated by hormones and inflammation that are disrupted by emotional and physical stress.
early maturation of the brain
Stressful events may accelerate brain development and reduce neuroplasticity at a young age.
Brain development also differs from person to person.
Although there are some general patterns of brain development, how the brain matures varies from person to person.
Genetic influences on brain development can influence:
Emotional maturity Insight Judgment Learning ability Memory
Some people are better at learning music, while others find science easier.
Additionally, life experiences have a huge impact on brain skills. For example, people who learn to cook or take care of pets at an early age can continue to demonstrate these skills throughout their lives. If you haven’t had experience cooking or taking care of pets since childhood, it may be difficult to learn how to do so.
Emotional events can also affect brain development. People who experience turmoil, especially early in life, may become more emotionally reactive, unstable, hypervigilant (always alert or aware of their surroundings), or anxious. It may happen.
However, people exposed to emotional events may become more empathetic (able to feel what others are feeling). It is unclear why early life events affect some people differently.
At what age is your mind at its sharpest?
For many people, intellectual ability, executive function (aspects of thinking including planning, memory, and self-control), social skills, and empathy continue to improve throughout adulthood. In some cases, diseases or abilities can cause a decline in brain performance.
Most people continue to improve various aspects of their brain power into adulthood, unless there is a specific reason to do so.
Even after their brains have fully matured physically and developmentally, older adults can still draw on lessons from their life experiences and intentionally engage in exercises that sharpen their cognitive abilities.
When does the brain start to age?
Brain aging does not affect everyone in the same way. Certain health conditions can have a negative impact on the brain, accelerating age-related brain atrophy and damaging different parts of the brain. The hippocampus and frontal lobe are susceptible to the effects of aging. A stroke can damage any area of ​​the brain, leading to a decreased ability to respond to the damaged area.
The hippocampus, which plays a major role in memory, can begin to shrink starting in your mid-30s. However, even if the hippocampus begins to shrink, the connections may remain healthy.
Disease-related brain degeneration can lead to clinical symptoms such as forgetfulness and cognitive decline.
summary
Enhancement of brain function includes the structural and physical growth of the brain, along with the development of the brain’s communication networks. Cognitive and emotional abilities such as learning, reasoning, self-awareness, self-control, and empathy improve as the brain develops with age.
Much of this development is genetically determined and follows age-related patterns. Life circumstances, health status, and intentional actions can also play a role.
Although the development and decline of brain capacity is programmed to some extent with age, diseases that affect the brain and chaotic life experiences can impede development and cause age-related declines in brain function. A nurturing learning environment and healthy lifestyle promote brain development and reduce the effects of brain decline.