When Are Brains Fully Developed? Brain Maturation According To Science (2024)

We know that the human brain is not fully developed at birth. In fact, it isn’t even close. It takes years for the brain to grow and mature, and even then, it continues to change and develop throughout our lives.

What does it mean about brain development?

The definition of “fully developed” can vary, but when it comes to the brain, scientists generally agree that it reaches full maturity around the age of 25. This doesn’t mean that the brain stops growing and changing after 25; it just means that it has reached its adult form.

There are a few key areas of the brain that continue to develop well into adulthood, it includes:

The prefrontal cortex

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for things like decision-making and controlling impulses. It’s one of the last areas of the brain to mature and doesn’t reach full development until a person is in their early 20s.

The limbic system

The limbic system is responsible for our emotions and motivation. It matures earlier than the prefrontal cortex but continues to develop throughout adolescence and into adulthood.

The Cerebellum

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating movement. It reaches full maturity around the age of 10 but continues to grow until a person is in their mid-20s.

What to expect during different stages of development:

During the prenatal stage (before birth), the brain grows rapidly, tripling in size by the end of the first trimester. By the time a baby is born, its brain is about 25% of the size it will be as an adult.

During infancy, the brain continues to grow and develop at a rapid pace. By the end of the first year, the brain is about 80% of its adult size.

During early childhood (ages 2-5), the brain makes connections (synapses) between neurons, which lay the foundation for thinking, learning, and memory.

During late childhood and adolescence (ages 6-21), the brain continues to grow and mature. This is when a child learns new skills, like reading and writing, and develops more sophisticated thinking abilities.

During adulthood (ages 22-25), the brain reaches full maturity. Although it’s not growing anymore, it’s still making connections and changing in response to experience.

So when is the brain fully developed?

While the brain is continually developing throughout life, research suggests that it is not fully developed until a person reaches their early 20s.

This conclusion is based on a number of studies that have looked at brain development in adolescents and young adults.

For example, one study found that the teenage brain is more likely to take risks and seek out new experiences than the adult brain.

Another study found that the ability to reason and make complex decisions matures during the early 20s.

Together, these studies suggest that the brain undergoes significant changes during adolescence and young adulthood, eventually reaching full maturity around the age of 20.

However, it should be noted that there is still some debate on this topic, and further research is needed to confirm these findings.

How environment affects brain development?

A child’s brain develops in response to its environment. This means that the experiences a child has, both good and bad, can affect the way the brain develops.

For example, children who grow up in poverty or who experience abuse or neglect are more likely to have brains that are smaller in size and have less activity in certain areas compared to children who do not experience these adverse experiences.

On the other hand, children who have positive experiences, such as a loving home environment or quality early education, are more likely to have brains that are larger in size and have more activity in certain areas compared to children who do not have these positive experiences.

Is brain development completed before puberty?

Although the brain continues to develop into young adulthood, the vast majority of brain development occurs before puberty. This is evident in the fact that children’s brains are much more flexible and adaptable than adults’ brains.

For example, children can learn new languages much more easily than adults can. This is because their brains are better able to build new neural connections.

Additionally, children’s brains are much better at making connections between different areas of the brain. This allows them to learn faster and remember more. However, puberty marks a significant change in brain development.

Once puberty begins, the brain becomes much less flexible and adaptable. This is why it becomes harder for people to learn new things as they get older.

Therefore, although brain development continues into young adulthood, most of it occurs before puberty.

What happens when the brain is fully developed?

Once the brain is fully developed, its owner will have reached adulthood.

The brain will continue to grow and change throughout life, but the rate of change will slow down. After reaching adulthood, the brain will undergo a process known as cerebral atrophy, wherein it will lose mass.

This loss of mass is due to a decrease in the number of neurons and the connections between them. However, the brain is able to offset this loss by becoming more efficient in its use of resources.

Additionally, the brain will continue to form new connections and learn new information throughout adulthood. As such, even though the brain will change over time, it will still be capable of performing all of its essential functions.

Bottom line

The human brain is an amazing organ. It starts developing before we are even born and continues to grow and change throughout our lives.

Although the brain is not fully developed at birth, it reaches full maturity around the age of 20.

After reaching adulthood, the brain will continue to grow and change throughout life, but the rate of change will slow down. The brain is an amazing organ that enables us to think, feel, and move.

It is constantly changing and evolving, even into adulthood.