Key Periods of Neuroplasticity
The brain changes most readily at particular points in development. Knowing when, and what each window supports, shapes how we think about early intervention.
Infancy and early childhood, 0 to 5 years
The brain is highly malleable, with rapid synaptogenesis, the formation of new connections, and pruning, the elimination of unused ones.
Critical periods exist for language, sensory processing, and motor development, which means experiences in this window have a powerful impact. For example, children deprived of visual input during early years may have lasting impairments in vision despite later treatment.
- Knudsen, E. I. (2004). Sensitive periods in the development of the brain and behavior. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 16(8), 1412 to 1425.
- Huttenlocher, P. R., & Dabholkar, A. S. (1997). Regional differences in synaptogenesis in human cerebral cortex. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 387(2), 167 to 178.
Childhood and adolescence, 6 to 25 years
Though early childhood is the peak, plasticity continues as the brain develops executive functioning, self-regulation, and social cognition.
During puberty and adolescence the prefrontal cortex undergoes major remodeling, supporting higher-order thinking and emotional regulation.
- Casey, B. J., Tottenham, N., Liston, C., & Durston, S. (2005). Imaging the developing brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9(3), 104 to 110.
- Johnson, M. H. (2001). Functional brain development in humans. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2(7), 475 to 483.