The Framework of the Little Human Brain

Children’s brains have a massive growth spurt when they’re very young. By the time they’re six, their brains are already about 90-95% of adult size. The early years are a critical time for brain development and how they interact with the world, but the brain still needs a lot of remodelling before it can function as an adult brain.

This brain remodelling or "pruning" happens extensively during adolescence, and can last until 27 years of age. Brain change depends on age, experience and hormonal changes in puberty.

Pruning is when the unused connections in the thinking and processing part of your child’s brain (called the grey matter) are ‘pruned’ away or cleaned up. At the same time, other connections are strengthened. The brain is becoming more efficient and this is based on the "use it or lose it" principle.

This pruning process begins in the back of the brain. The prefrontal cortex or the front of brain behind the forehead, is remodelled last. The prefrontal cortex is the decision-making part of the brain, responsible for the ability to plan and think about the consequences of actions, solve problems and control impulses. These changes in this part of the brain continue into the mid-20's.

Due to the fact the prefrontal cortex is still developing, teenagers rely on a part of the brain called the amygdala to make decisions and solve problems more than adults do. The amygdala is associated with emotions, impulses, aggression and instinctive behaviour.

Have you noticed that sometimes your child’s thinking and behaviour seems quite mature, but at other times your child seems to behave or think in illogical, impulsive or emotional ways? The back-to-front development of the brain explains these shifts and changes – teenagers are working with brains that are still under construction.

The lessons that accompany the Anatomy & Physiology are designed to give control to the student, on what is physically happening within the brain and body and how the development effects their emotional state and how they react to the world.