Critical Years in Brain Development

Between the ages of 3 and 6, the human brain develops in a meteoric burst of cell growth, restructuring and formation of connections between neurons. Never again, in the course of an entire lifetime, will an individual's brain undergo such a major period of development.  

As can be seen above, the brain continues to mature, albeit at a reduced but significant rate, into its adult form until the late twenties. At that point, the brain can continue to function for many, many years. 

The maturation of the brain is associated with the development of what neuroscientists refer to as executive functions. Executive functions are