Did you know the brain develops at 25 is a myth?

[Hsrdonme]

The studies it's based on make no sense and only include the study of people aged 18 to 24 so their data is incomplete.

Plus so many studies have cited different ages for development, some say your brain is developed before you turn 25, some late 20s some 30s.

Its just a myth.

[abc3643]

The brain's physiology continues to develop until about 25.

This is established scientific fact from peer-reviewed journals. That's how science is done.

These are excerpts from the article:

https://www.dovepress.com/article/download/12651

Maturation of the adolescent brain
Mariam Arain 1, Maliha Haque 1, Lina Johal 1, Puja Mathur 1, Wynand Nel 1, Afsha Rais 1, Ranbir Sandhu 1, Sushil Sharma 1
1Saint James School of Medicine, Kralendijk, Bonaire, The Netherlands

published in the peer-reviewed journal

Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment
2013 Apr 3; 9:449–461.

(An international, peer-reviewed journal of clinical therapeutics and pharmacology focusing on concise rapid reporting of clinical or pre-clinical studies on a range of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.)
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The adolescent brain

It is well established that various morphological and physiological changes occur in the human brain during adolescence. The term “adolescence” is generally used to describe a transition stage between childhood and adulthood. “Adolescence” also denotes both teenage years and puberty, as these terms are not mutually exclusive. The second surge of synaptogenesis occurs in the brain during the adolescent years. Hence, adolescence is one of the most dynamic events of human growth and development, second only to infancy in terms of the rate of developmental changes that can occur within the brain. Although there is no single definition of adolescence or a set age boundary, Kaplan 4 has pointed out that puberty refers to the hormonal changes that occur in early youth, and adolescence may extend well beyond the teenage years. In fact, there are characteristic developmental changes that almost all adolescents experience during their transition from childhood to adulthood. It is well established that the brain undergoes a “rewiring” process that is not complete until approximately 25 years of age.5 This discovery has enhanced our basic understanding regarding adolescent brain maturation and it has provided support for behaviors experienced in late adolescence and early adulthood. Several investigators consider the age span 10–24 years as adolescence, which can be further divided into substages specific to physical, cognitive, and social–emotional development.5,6

...

Prefrontal cortex
Recently, investigators have studied various aspects of the maturation process of the prefrontal cortex of adolescents.17,18 The prefrontal cortex offers an individual the capacity to exercise good judgment when presented with difficult life situations. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the frontal lobes lying just behind the forehead, is responsible for cognitive analysis, abstract thought, and the moderation of correct behavior in social situations. The prefrontal cortex acquires information from all of the senses and orchestrates thoughts and actions in order to achieve specific goals.

The prefrontal cortex is one of the last regions of the brain to reach maturation, which explains why some adolescents exhibit behavioral immaturity. There are several executive functions of the human prefrontal cortex that remain under construction during adolescence, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The fact that brain development is not complete until near the age of 25 years refers specifically to the development of the prefrontal cortex. 19

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When you're young, you don't understand a lot of what you are going through or just went through. This is natural. But, when you get much older, you reflect back and certain bits of instinctive intuition kick in. The idea of 25 has more or less been established scientifically, but, to those considerably older than 25, we intuitively feel that is something of a benchmark age. In crass terms, when you are about 25, you have "your shit together" in your brain and most of us by then function like a normal adult. Indeed, I felt this long before I knew about brain development. I remember once when I was about 31 talking to a former student of mine. She was 27 at the time and she said she couldn't believe how immature she was. Also, I realized that I had set a lower bar on the age of women that I would date and that was 25 because my instincts told me that a girl isn't going to have her shit together and be a good partner until about that age; dating younger invited instability and danger. Finally, even the Founding Fathers intuitive knew something was special about that age which is why they made the minimum age to be a member of the House of Representatives be 25. (And Senate, 30, and President 35 - the more serious the position, the older the minimum age because of experience and maturity.)

Personally, I wouldn't want people to be able to vote until 25, but I'm not in charge.

When you get older, you will intuitively understand what I am saying. Assuming you are 28 as your profile indicates, your still too close to that time to notice the change that occurs around 24 or 25.

[Hsrdonme]

So why do other sources also peer reviewed journals claim your cortex develops before 25 up to your 30s? You are citing one source here and it's based on studies that were incomplete and therefore make no sense.

You are using your own personal experience to project onto others. Some people feel developed at different ages just because you are not developed, doesn't mean you know what you are doing, this is nonsense because otherwise why are we letting under 25s do major jobs and give them responsibility?

Government ages are something completely different, you have to consider their context, it's not a good example.

[Hsrdonme]

Even your own source says the cortex develops close to 25, so what's that? 23, 24?

This is such a grey area, it's hardly a rule.

[Hsrdonme]

I can't paste links because I am xper 1

Neuroscience explains it , also the studies that were done on people and how this belief that you are developed at 25 came to be.

New research suggests our cortex develops till our 30s

[abc3643]

It's never a universal rule. It's always approximate. No different than any other development stage.

I did give you a peer-reviewed journal that was sort of a synopsis of this issue. However, it cites other papers and they cite papers etc... Ultimately, there are real studies showing reality. So, "Follow the citations". That's easier said than done because most real journal papers are behind paywalls online. The alternative is to go to a good technical library such as at a large university.

[Hsrdonme]

You can goggle the brain development myth, lots of sources about it from neuroscientists.

[Hagar88]

I think it was just an excuse to retard people's development. You should have teens take responsibility for themselves at age 16 that way their brains develop and they don't live at home age 30.

[LeatherDame]

It never finished changing, there is no one hard line but it’s more difficult after 25 (as a general rule, mileage may vary)

[AI Opinion]

The notion that the brain completely develops at 25 is an oversimplification. While it's true that major structural changes, such as those in the prefrontal cortex, occur in the mid-20s for many, brain development is complex and individualized. Factors like genetics, environment, and experiences contribute to ongoing changes throughout life. Neuroscience acknowledges that brain plasticity continues well beyond one's 20s. Understanding personal growth and neurological development should include a broader perspective beyond a fixed age.

[slatyb]

That's just silly. It develops from birth. We continue to learn at every age. However, it was a lot easier for me to learn things at 18 than it is now.

[jahaims]

25 is an average. Males and females develop at different rates as well as individuals of the same gender. People are in there 20s to 30s before the brain is developed

[Hsrdonme]

Yeah 25 is just a rounded number it doesn't mean much

[jahaims]

It does mean something. It is an average. Which is an important data point if you understand statistics etc.

[Hsrdonme]

It doesn't mean anything for people in real life

[jahaims]

You lacking knowledge doesn't mean you are correct lol. You just lack knowledge and assume a results based on what little you understand.

[Hsrdonme]

you are using a myth like the 25 age to judge people, great.

[In_Trance]

If it's a myth then why do people act like such a dumbasses into their thirties?
Under development of the brain would be justification

[Abbycado]

Great, who cares?