What happens to your brain as you age
The Economist・6 minutes read
The brain undergoes significant development from conception to adulthood, with neurons forming, maturing, and creating new connections that impact learning abilities and behavior. Neuroplasticity allows for the strengthening or weakening of synapses based on usage, showcasing the brain's adaptability and resilience throughout life.
Insights
- The brain starts forming just 2 weeks after conception, growing around 100 billion neurons by birth, showing rapid development in the early stages of life.
- Neuroplasticity in children aged 3 to 10 allows for the strengthening or weakening of synapses based on usage, impacting learning and development, while teenagers experience brain changes favoring reward over self-control, leading to mood swings and risk-taking behavior.
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Recent questions
How does the brain develop from conception to birth?
The brain begins forming about 2 weeks after conception, with the neural plate folding into a tube to create the nervous system, growing hundreds of neurons every minute until birth, totaling about 100 billion neurons at birth.
What happens to the brain's synapses in the first few years of life?
Neurons mature and create new connections, with the number of synapses per neuron increasing from 2,500 at birth to around 15,000 in the first few years of life, aiding in learning abilities like languages or musical instruments.
What is neuroplasticity and when does it occur in the brain?
From ages 3 to 10, the brain starts removing unnecessary connections, showcasing neuroplasticity where synapses can be strengthened or weakened based on usage, impacting development and learning.
How does brain development differ in teenagers compared to adults?
Teenagers experience brain development changes, with areas linked to reward developing faster than those associated with self-control, leading to mood swings, risk-taking behavior, and increased emotional control post-puberty, with brain development continuing into the 30s and beyond, showcasing adaptability and resilience.
At what age does the brain's development continue into the 30s?
Brain development continues into the 30s and beyond, showcasing adaptability and resilience.
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Summary
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"Brain Development: From Conception to Adulthood"
- The brain begins forming about 2 weeks after conception, with the neural plate folding into a tube to create the nervous system, growing hundreds of neurons every minute until birth, totaling about 100 billion neurons at birth.
- Neurons mature and create new connections, with the number of synapses per neuron increasing from 2,500 at birth to around 15,000 in the first few years of life, aiding in learning abilities like languages or musical instruments.
- From ages 3 to 10, the brain starts removing unnecessary connections, showcasing neuroplasticity where synapses can be strengthened or weakened based on usage, impacting development and learning.
- Teenagers experience brain development changes, with areas linked to reward developing faster than those associated with self-control, leading to mood swings, risk-taking behavior, and increased emotional control post-puberty, with brain development continuing into the 30s and beyond, showcasing adaptability and resilience.
