Five Stages of Human Brain Development Identified

• Five stages of brain development have been identified: infancy, childhood, adolescence, early, and late adulthood.
• Key age milestones: nine, 32, 66, and 83 years.
• Further research may help understand the developmental psychological processes and aging of the brain.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge conducted a study in which they identified five main stages of human brain development. To do this, data from a neuroimaging study involving more than 4,000 people aged from birth to 90 years was analyzed. The results showed that brain development occurs through four key stages at different ages: nine, 32, 66, and 83 years.

The first stage, infancy, lasts from birth to nine years. During this period, the brain actively increases in volume, but there is also a decrease in the amount of synapses, which leads to reduced effectiveness of connections.

The second stage, childhood, lasts from nine to 32 years. During this time, the connections in the brain become more effective, which is associated with enhanced cognitive abilities. The childhood period is also critical for the development of psychological processes.

The third stage, adolescence, lasts from 32 to 66 years. The brain transitions to a stable state, although changes in connections may become less prominent. During this time, many individuals reach peak development in intelligence and personality.

The fourth stage, early adulthood, begins at 66 years. The brain starts to branch out into more specialized areas, which may be related to the onset of degenerative processes.

The final stage, late adulthood, begins at 83 years. Changes in the brain become more pronounced, and research has shown that with age, overall connectivity decreases.

These results may help clarify why the risk of psychological disorders and dementia changes throughout life. Scientists believe that knowledge of the stages of brain development could be useful for understanding various neurological and psychological states.

Tags: Research