Google

The process of neural pruning continues beyond early childhood, extending through adolescence and into adulthood in certain brain regions. This selective reduction of synapses occurs in various areas of the brain at different times, with the prefrontal cortex being one of the last to fully mature through this process.

Timeline of Neural Pruning

The main mechanism driving synapse rearrangement are similar to those driving plasticity: Experience. Synapses that are more frequently stimulated by our experiences  may acquire more neurotrophic factors that allow them to survive. These synapses may also undergo more myelination in order to conduct impulses more rapidly in the brain. 

Mechanisms of Synapse Rearrangement

A 16-year-old demonstrates remarkable ability in learning complex new physical skills but often struggles with weighing future consequences and making well-thought-out plans. Which statement best applies the principles of neural development to explain this common adolescent behavioral pattern?

Learn Before

Related