Development of the brain

Brain development starts within a week of conception and grows fastest in the first 1001 days. It reaches adult size earlier than any other organ. Most brain cells or neurones that the person will ever use are probably present at birth (about 100 billion), but the pathways, or connections, between the neurones are not complete. New neurones form connections, or pathways between one another, this process is called synaptogenesis.

More neurones are produced prenatally than we actually need. Neural pruning removes the unused neurones, a process which continues at least until puberty. Neurones that are not stimulated often will lose their synapses. We have lost half of these by the age of ten. For neurones to form and keep connections, stimulation is important. It seems as though the brain becomes over connected but we only keep the useful ones into chilhood and adulthood.