A neuroscientist has shared why people might feel more ‘adult’ in their mid-twenties, and it’s not just because of lifestyle changes, like getting your own place or starting a new career.
Doctor Stefan Mindea MD broke down the science behind the phenomenon, explaining that there are a lot of significant changes happening in the brain between your twenties and thirties.
Talking to the Express, the neurosurgical medical researcher detailed how the human brain takes years to reach maturity.
“It’s not until the mid-to-late twenties that the brain and all of its components are considered fully mature, especially in terms of structural and functional development,” said Dr Mindea.
“The frontal lobe, especially the frontal and prefrontal cortex, is among the last areas of the brain to fully develop, typically reaching maturity around age 25.”
As it turns out, this area of the brain is responsible for various important functions.
Dr Mindea explained: “The frontal lobe handles, among many other things, skills under the umbrella of ‘executive functioning’, meaning multi-step processes like decision-making, planning, problem-solving, and adapting behaviour to achieve any planned or desired goals we may have.”
Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex is responsible for processes that assist in decision-making. “This part of our brain assesses risks and rewards, consider consequences, and helps us choose among options we may have,” said the expert. “Impulse control is also controlled by this area and is essential in mediating and controlling urges as well as delaying gratification or resisting temptations so that we can achieve goals we have set out to meet.”
When the brain reaches maturity, people may notice ‘several major differences’, often leading to emotional and behavioural changes, the expert added.
People may notice changes including:
- Improved self-control. “People tend to become more consistent in their habits and will generally reduce the tendency for impulsive behaviours,” said Dr Mindea.
- Better emotional stability and regulation. This helps in forming healthier relationships, the expert added.
- Enhanced problem-solving and planning. “Decision-making skills will become more strategic, with an increased capacity for weighing long-term goals over short-term desires.This is really the hallmark of a mature person, a person that can focus to achieve something long-term without being distracted by short-term urges, cravings, or compromises,” the doctor said.
- Increased Social Awareness. “The mature brain allows for a more nuanced understanding of social norms, social appropriateness, what is appropriate social behaviour, empathy, and perspective-taking, all of which are essential in building stronger social bonds and better conflict resolution.”
Dr Mindea concluded: “By the age of 25, the prefrontal cortex’s connections to other parts of the brain are well-established, allowing for more complex cognitive functions and greater self-regulation. This may explain why individuals around this age often describe feeling more ‘adult’ and capable of handling life’s challenges with greater foresight and emotional resilience.”