Evolution has played a big role in how our brains change and adapt at different stages of our lives. This is important because it helps us respond to changes in our surroundings.
Developmental Stages:
Neonates (Newborns): By the time a baby is 2 years old, its brain is about 75% the size of an adult's brain. This shows how quickly their brain connections, called synapses, are formed.
Childhood: When kids are 2 to 3 years old, their brains are creating a lot of synapses. It's estimated that they form around 100 trillion of them during this time.
Adolescence (Teen Years): In the teenage years, the brain goes through big changes. The part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, which is important for decision-making, doesn’t fully mature until around age 25.
Aging Process:
As we get older, our ability to change and adapt, known as neuroplasticity, starts to go down. Older adults may see a 20% drop in new brain cell growth compared to younger people.
By the time someone reaches 70, their brain's ability to change structurally can decrease by 30-50%. This can make learning new things and remembering information harder.
These changes that happen throughout our lives allow us to learn and adapt more easily when we are young. As we age, our brains focus more on maintaining stability and keeping what we have learned, which is important for surviving in different situations.
Evolution has played a big role in how our brains change and adapt at different stages of our lives. This is important because it helps us respond to changes in our surroundings.
Developmental Stages:
Neonates (Newborns): By the time a baby is 2 years old, its brain is about 75% the size of an adult's brain. This shows how quickly their brain connections, called synapses, are formed.
Childhood: When kids are 2 to 3 years old, their brains are creating a lot of synapses. It's estimated that they form around 100 trillion of them during this time.
Adolescence (Teen Years): In the teenage years, the brain goes through big changes. The part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, which is important for decision-making, doesn’t fully mature until around age 25.
Aging Process:
As we get older, our ability to change and adapt, known as neuroplasticity, starts to go down. Older adults may see a 20% drop in new brain cell growth compared to younger people.
By the time someone reaches 70, their brain's ability to change structurally can decrease by 30-50%. This can make learning new things and remembering information harder.
These changes that happen throughout our lives allow us to learn and adapt more easily when we are young. As we age, our brains focus more on maintaining stability and keeping what we have learned, which is important for surviving in different situations.