Frequently Asked Questions About Brain Development
Explore how the human brain grows from before birth to adulthood, and how the earliest experiences in the first three years of life can dramatically shape and support brain development into adulthood.

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The human brain begins forming very early in prenatal life (just three weeks after conception), but in many ways, brain development is a lifelong project. That is because the same events that shape the brain during development are also responsible for storing information—new skills and memories—throughout life. The major difference between brain development in a child versus an adult is a matter of degree: the brain is far more impressionable (neuroscientists use the term plastic) in early life than in maturity. This plasticity has both a positive and a negative side. On the positive side, it means that young children’s brains are more open to learning and enriching influences. On the negative side, it also means that young children’s brains are more vulnerable to developmental problems should their environment prove especially impoverished or un-nurturing.
Explore the questions below to learn more about brain development.
General Brain Development
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When is the brain fully developed?
In some ways, never. Our brains are continually re-shaping themselves to meet the demands of everyday life, even throughout adulthood.
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Why does the developing brain undergo these critical periods in its development?
Neuroscientists do not yet fully understand the biological basis of these critical periods.
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Are there critical periods in the development of every brain function?
Prenatal Development
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What are the most important influences on brain development before birth?
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Postnatal Development
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Are there any differences in the development of boys' and girls' brains?
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What are the most important changes in the brain after birth?