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What causes damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex?
The prefrontal cortex is also physically affected by cocaine use. Chronic use has led to a decrease in the amount of gray matter in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The reduction in gray matter and effect on behavior is analogous (similar) to a person having lesions throughout their medial prefrontal cortex.
Why are the first three years important to a child's development?
The early years, especially the first three years of life, are crucial for building the baby's brain. ... A child's brain develops rapidly during the first five years of experience, especially in the first three years. It is a time of rapid cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and motor development.
The human brain isn't fully developed until 25 years of age. Everything is there except for the frontal cortex, which is the last thing to mature.
An immature frontal cortex explains the spectrum of teenage behaviors: it's what makes adolescents, says Sapolsky.
"The sensation-seeking and the risk-taking; the highs are higher, and the lows are lower, regarding adolescents," he says.
Teenagers are more adventurous and more heroic during this time—but can also be more violent and impulsive.
Because your frontal cortex is the last part of developing "it's the part of the brain that is most sculpted by environment and experience—and least constrained by genes," Sapolsky says.
Your adventure levels, openness, experience, and influences at 25 years old will shape who you are when you're 60.
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