Glial Cells w/c are responsible for the increase in brain size.

Myelination - the change or maturation of certain nerve cells whereby a layer of myelin forms around the axons which allows the nerve impulses to travel faster. Cell Proliferation - an increase in the number of cells as a result of cell growth and cell division. Cell Pruning - is a neurological regulatory process, which facilitates a productive change in neural structure

Brain Development
Early Childhood

Middle Childhood
Adolescence

The human brain continue to develop since birth. In every 6 months it double doubles its weight about a half of an adult brain. There are 100 billion neurons present at birth w/c conduct nerve impulses that are nourished by glial cells. Myelination of nerve fibers grows at different paces for different parts of the brain. The first to be myelinated is the peripheral nervous system connecting the sensory perception, brain muscles, spinal cord, and the internal organs and glands.

First 4 Months - During this stage of brain development in infants, a baby starts responding to motor and sensory stimulation. 5 to 6 Months - A child often smiles and recognizes parents and siblings. 7 to 12 Months - Greater mental development is evident as babies can remember actions and repeat them from memory and find hidden objects. 1 to 2 Years - During this stage, children show greater motor skills as they run and climb stairs.

2 to 3 Years - Children attain greater motor skills as they gain coordination in their movements.
3 to 6 Years - During this stage of child development a child has greater attention span.

95% of brain growth is reached by the time a child reacher the age of nine. Such growth is characterized by interrelated processes, namely: cell proliferation and cell pruning. The neurons of the association areas parts of the brain where sensory, motor and intellectual functions are linked and myelinized to some degree. Another significant change in this stage is the ability to identify and act a relationship between objects in space.

Emotional/Social Changes: More independence from parents and family. Stronger sense of right and wrong. Beginning awareness of the future. More attention to friendships and teamwork. Growing desire to be liked and accepted by friends. Mental/Cognitive Changes:

Rapid development of mental skills. Greater ability to describe experiences and talk about thoughts and feelings. Less focus on ones self and more concern for others.

In teenaged years, there are 2 major brain growth spurts, one occurring between ages 13-15 and the second brain growth spurt beginning around age 17 and w/c continues into early adulthood. There is more energy produced and consumed by this first spurt wherein the spurts tale place in parts of the brain that control spatial perception and motor function. The 2nd brain growth spurt has the frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex as focus of development. Among older teens dealing w/ problems requiring cognitive functions is easier than with younger teens.

The above composite MRI brain images show top views of the sequence of gray matter maturation over the surface of the brain.

Adolescence is often characterized by increased independence and a desire for knowledge and exploration, it is also a time when brain changes can result in high-risk behaviors as different parts of the brain matures at different rates.