At what age do we become adults? Neuroscience reveals

Having a definition of when we go from childhood to adulthood seems increasingly absurd.

From the point of view of neuroscience, “there is a much more subtle transition that occurs over three decades,” explains the researcher and professor at the epiCentre Institute of Neuroscience, from the University of Cambridge Peter Jones to the BBC World.

Puberty and the brain

Puberty marks a before and after in development, and the process of sexual maturity can take several years.

“What is less obvious is that our brain also embarks on a period of change at this stage of life. And these changes can last well into the 20s, ”Jones explained.

These modifications include the development of communication circuits in the brain and are based on two types of changes, according to the scientist.

“Changes on the one hand at synapses, the connection points between neurons in which there is a process of elimination (what is known as synaptic pruning).”

This process of eliminating excessive synapses, in an optimization mechanism, could explain the increase…