Final answer:
The brain grows the most rapidly during the first few years of life. Research suggests that neural connections and pathways occur during this period of rapid growth. The brain becomes more complex, efficient, and functional during childhood and adolescence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The brain grows the most rapidly during the first few years of life. Research suggests that the majority of neural connections and pathways occur during this period of rapid growth, known as blooming. This growth is followed by a period of pruning, where neural connections are reduced to make the brain function more efficiently. By the age of six, the brain has already attained about 90 percent of its adult size. During the first few years of life, the frontal lobes, which are associated with planning, reasoning, memory, and impulse control, grow rapidly. Overall, the brain becomes more complex, efficient, and functional during childhood and adolescence.