The brain is responsible for sending, receiving and processing signals throughout the central nervous system. These signals are also referred to as messages that convey information about the body through our five senses (sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste). The brain also processes signals in the body, including temperature, pain, and heartbeat. This helps us to understand what is going on.
WHAT IS THE BRAIN’S FUNCTION?
Below are some of the key functions of the brain:
- Automatic processes such as breathing, heart rate, sleep, and temperature regulation
- Fight-or-flight response
- Keeping your organs working normally
- Memories and emotions
- Movement, balance and coordination
- Speech and language
- Memories and emotions
- Sensory processing (vision, hearing, smell, touch, and taste)
- Speech and language
- Thoughts and decision-making
WHEN DOES A BRAIN FULLY DEVELOP?
Experts state that the human brain continues to grow in their mid-20s, with some neurologists demonstrating that brain development continues until around age 25, while others have proposed that it can continue up to 30 years of age. The last part of the brain that matures in these years is the frontal lobe, which IS responsible for multifaceted functions like planning, decision-making, and impulse control.
Vital Features of Brain Development
Frontal Lobe Development
The prefrontal cortex, which is situated behind the forehead, is one of the last brain regions to fully mature. This area is essential for brain functions such as planning, organizing, impulse control, and decision-making.
Elimination of Neural Connections
As a child grows up, the brain generates many neural connections. During adolescence, the brain crops away connections that are not used, which helps with clarity and efficiency in response to the surrounding environment.
Ongoing Enhancement
By adolescence, the brain stops growing in size; hence, the teenage years are dedicated to improving how the brain works, up to adulthood.
Widespread Growth
However, to sum it up, there is no “single” age for when the brain development process completes. This is because the human brain is complex and consists of several brain regions that are divided into different tasks and functions, and take their own time to grow and mature.
Why is 25 years of age regarded as when the brain fully develops?
The age of 25 is often emphasized because research has shown that the brain’s capacity to make sound decisions and judgments, which are the functions of the prefrontal cortex, is fully developed until around this time. However, some studies highlight that brain development can go further than 25 years, but this is the most commonly cited age.