Our brain is constantly evolving, but there is a theory that this process stops at age 25. After reviewing the latest research, the scientists decided to refute the preconceived notions.
It seems that humanity, from the moment it enters the role of “sensible person”, begs the question of what the onset of “adulthood” means for our brains. Many believe that at the age of 25, the brain has reached a maturity limit, becoming more intelligent and less susceptible to change. But InlScience writes that the brain’s path to maturity is not as easy as it seems.
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Does our brain development stop at 25? In short: no. But in short, all this is not as exciting as delving into this topic and discovering the whole giant picture of the maturation mechanisms of our gray liquid.
A 2013 study highlights that the belief that brain maturity occurs at age 25 refers precisely to the evolution of the prefrontal cortex, the “logic center” of our brain.
Compared to other areas involved in developing skills such as language acquisition, “the prefrontal cortex, which is the command center for cognitive control and restraint, is slow to mature,” says Shannon Odell, a neuroscientist and science communicator. Helps adults in adolescence and development of abilities that require learning, concentration and memory.
Research conducted by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the early 2000s showed that the prefrontal cortex reaches its peak development around age 25. A 2005 report reported that MRI scans were widely used by more than 2,000 people ages 4 to 26 to conduct this study.
Study leader Dr. Jay Gidd said in 2004: “Initially, we expected to watch kids up to about 18 or 20 years old. Now we’ll probably raise the threshold to 25.”
But will one wake up on their 25th birthday feeling like a fully developed, intelligent being, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon? Tough. The study found significant differences in the timing of the development of the anterolateral prefrontal cortex in different people, with women tending to reach maturity a little earlier. According to Gidd, they are still investigating why. Additionally, both critics of neuroimaging research and Gidd himself have admitted that there is no established link between changes in the brain and behavior.
How does the brain change throughout life?
In 2022, diagrams were published showing the growth path of the human brain, obtained from 123,984 MRI scans of 101,457 participants, from newborns to centenarians.
Co-authors of the study, Dr. “Until now we had a rough idea of brain size, but an accurate measurement across all age groups has only been achieved thanks to this global initiative,” said Richard Bethlehem and Jakob. Seidlitz. They also explained that the study offers a standardized roadmap for typical brain development and a universal language for converting brain scores into percentile scores.
When asked about the early and late stages of brain development, the authors noted: “It is quite predictable that many of the key features we measure peak at an early age, most even before age six. The changes are more radical. How do they occur slowly and unnoticed at an early age, in the later stages of life.
However, they caution against a universal timeline for brain development, highlighting the significant variability between individuals and the specific areas measured.
The authors acknowledge that despite the large number of scans, the study may still have a regional bias, as it relies heavily on data from Western, educated, industrialized, wealthy, and democratic countries. When asked if the brain has reached maturity, the authors replied, “This depends largely on your definition of maturity. Depending on the area of the brain and the trait measured, we find peaks at a given age, but we also see changes that continue beyond these peaks. Bethlehem and Seidlitz also spoke of the ongoing work to link cognitive developmental stages to these maturation patterns.
He argues that 25 is a special age for the brain, saying, “The mid-20s are not a random number, because many areas of the brain reach their maximum volume at this age. But that doesn’t mean the brain has become resilient.” or unable to function at a mature level until that age.”
“The complex interplay of maturation patterns of different brain systems and cognitive development is still a mystery to be solved,” they concluded.
Previously Focus wrote about blueberries, which are useful in every sense. It turns out that it works wonders for our brains, too.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.