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Two to three weeks after conception, the human brain begins to develop, and the main basis of brain development occurs during pregnancy and in the first years of life.
Children's brains are very active and consume two to three times as much energy as the brain. For example, half of the calories consumed by an average 5-year-old child are consumed by the brain.
At birth, your baby's brain is about a quarter the size of yours.
In the first year, it doubles in size, and by the age of 3, it will be 80% of its final adult size.
Brain development in infants and children is divided into several stages:
Nerve formation:
In early pregnancy, the brain forms a three-layered sphere called the neural plate, which folds itself to form the neural tube.
After the neural tube closes (within the first six weeks of pregnancy), it begins to form various structures in the forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain, and spinal cord.
Proliferation:
After the neural tube is formed, neurons begin to replicate rapidly and migrate to the parts of the brain that they are supposed to serve.
Neurons are the foundation of the nervous system, allowing the brain to send and receive signals throughout the body.
Differentiation:
At this stage, some neurons develop into mature neurons with axons (transmitters in neurons) and dendrites (the receiving part in neurons).
Synaptogenesis:
This is the formation of synapses (connections between neurons) that are essential for brain function.
These connections allow us to act, think, and communicate.
The first synapse forms at the 23rd week of pregnancy, with a peak that appears in the first year of life.
Synaptic trimming:
During the first 2 to 3 years of life, more synapses are formed.
After the age of 2, a lot of pruning is required.
The brain is the most "malleable".
That's why early** stunting is the most effective.
Myelination:
The axons of neurons are encased in fat cells called myelin, allowing neurons to transmit information more quickly.
As with other stages of brain development, the timing of myelination depends on the brain region involved.
The parts of the brain that control balance and coordination already form myelination in the preschool years, while those that are involved in advanced processes such as emotion regulation and decision-making do not complete myelination until a person is in their teens and twenties.