The architecture of the brain is built early in life and continues into adulthood. Simple circuits in the brain are built first, with more complex ones developing on top of them later on. Genes provide the basic blueprint for brain development but experience influences whether or not those genes are expressed. The early years are like the foundations of a house – they form the basis for later development. The brain remains plastic throughout the lifetime but the ability of the brain to reorganise and adapt is greatest in the early years, as plasticity decreases with age.
Building a brain: The foundations
