4) The myth of the "brain development stops at 25" has caused people to see anyone below the age of 25 as being too mentally impaired for anything, not least for sex.
Is this thing about the Brain being fully developed until 25 actually true or is it a load of nonsense. There are people saying it is factual but is it really and is it really accurate?
Grunko wrote: Sun Mar 09, 2025 10:04 pm
Is this thing about the Brain being fully developed until 25 actually true or is it a load of nonsense. Is that even accurate and are there any evidence that proves it is nonsense
I did some reading. Apparently it's false, but not in a way that's helpful to us. The prefrontal cortex can be fully developed in your 20s before 25, and it can continue to develop after you're 25. When neurological researchers say your prefrontal cortex doesn't plateau until you're in your 20s, apparently there's nothing specific about the age of 25, it seems to be arbitrary.
The idea of basing the age of consent on how developed the prefrontal cortex is, isn't as intuitive as it first appears if you start to apply it consistently. If you base your criteria of consent on when the brain is fully developed, since adults with ADHD have impaired executive functions, they wouldn't be able to consent to sex either. Under those conditions you have a dilemma: either children can't consent and neither can adults with ADHD, or adults with ADHD can consent and so can children. And this isn't even delve into whether "fully developed" is the same for everyone.
Grunko wrote: Sun Mar 09, 2025 10:04 pm
Is this thing about the Brain being fully developed until 25 actually true or is it a load of nonsense. Is that even accurate and are there any evidence that proves it is nonsense
I did some reading. Apparently it's false, but not in a way that's helpful to us. The prefrontal cortex can be fully developed in your 20s before 25, and it can continue to develop after you're 25. When neurological researchers say your prefrontal cortex doesn't plateau until you're in your 20s, apparently there's nothing specific about the age of 25, it seems to be arbitrary.
The idea of basing the age of consent on how developed the prefrontal cortex is, isn't as intuitive as it first appears if you start to apply it consistently. If you base your criteria of consent on when the brain is fully developed, since adults with ADHD have impaired executive functions, they wouldn't be able to consent to sex either. Under those conditions you have a dilemma: either children can't consent and neither can adults with ADHD, or adults with ADHD can consent and so can children. And this isn't even delve into whether "fully developed" is the same for everyone.
I found some more links
https://www.thestudiesshowpod.com/p/epi ... -old-brain
I had a look at this. There is another podcast video which talks about the research. They mention things like individual differences…. No such thing as fully developed as Brian’s change throughout life (making connections and losing connections), and also explain no two Brains grow and develops at the same time or pace. They also talk that some people may never have a fully developed Brian.
If there are saying the frontal lobes (which is responsible for decision making, planning, emotional regulation, thinking, behaviour, read situations and other people, concentration, etc.) are not fully developed by 25 or 30, I find that science around the Brain development could be a bit biased and a bit harmful both to teenagers and adults because what if your over that age and struggle to do these things or find there are some teenagers who able to do these things better than even some people who are say 25+ or even at 40 with no fault of the own. I know you mentioned about ADHD, but what about other disabilities or mental health condition. it puts pressure on those over a certain age.
Grunko wrote: Sat Mar 15, 2025 1:31 amhttps://www.thestudiesshowpod.com/p/epi ... -old-brain
I had a look at this. There is another podcast video which talks about the research. They mention things like individual differences…. No such thing as fully developed as Brian’s change throughout life (making connections and losing connections), and also explain no two Brains grow and develops at the same time or pace. They also talk that some people may never have a fully developed Brian.
True, but I think the point is about when the brain plateaus. However, even then it's a problem because plateauing for one person isn't necessarily going to be the same for different people, so the criteria is still ultimately arbitrary.
https://www.sciencefocus.com/comment/br ... evelopment
If there are saying the frontal lobes (which is responsible for decision making, planning, emotional regulation, thinking, behaviour, read situations and other people, concentration, etc.) are not fully developed by 25 or 30, I find that science around the Brain development could be a bit biased and a bit harmful both to teenagers and adults because what if your over that age and struggle to do these things or find there are some teenagers who able to do these things better than even some people who are say 25+ or even at 40 with no fault of the own. I know you mentioned about ADHD, but what about other disabilities or mental health condition. it puts pressure on those over a certain age.
Yeah, this is the major rationale I've heard people use. That the frontal lobe is underdeveloped for minors. I think you're right about the pressure. Let's say an adult have the same executive functions and IQ as most minors do; do we say they have to act like they are like they are the same as other adults? On the other side, say you have a minor with the executive functions and IQ of most adults, should they have the same responsibility as adults?
If the differences between adults and minors are to be taken as seriously as they are, then they should be objective. Otherwise you need to leave room for exceptions (like how it used to be before the current hysteria, that even takes issue with one year age gaps).
Age of Consent (AoC) laws and Victorian-era moral frameworks reveal a profound disconnection from the intricate fabric of human interaction. These institutional constructs, while intended as protective measures, impose rigid categorizations that fail to account for individual uniqueness and contextual nuance. Consider the instance of a 14-year-old possessing extraordinary intellectual capabilities—a scenario that defies the simplistic age-based assumptions embedded in AoC laws. Such a case highlights the absurdity of uniform standards designed without consideration for human diversity. Similarly, Romeo and Juliet laws exemplify how legal frameworks often replicate societal oversimplifications, perpetuating stereotypes rather than promoting nuanced understanding. The Victorian legacy underscores how societal norms shape perceptions of consent and grooming, reducing these concepts to dichotomous binaries. This reductionism ignores the fluidity of power dynamics, where a nurturing interaction can transform from dominantly controlled to mutually beneficial. The rigidity of these frameworks leads to policies that fail to address the multifaceted nature of human relationships. Thus, it becomes evident that both AoC laws and Victorian morals foster an environment of oversimplification, leading to inconsistent judgments and policies that often hinder rather than support individual flourishing. A more sophisticated approach is necessary—one that acknowledges the intricate dance of power, consent, and context, necessitating a case-by-case evaluation that respects the uniqueness of each interaction.
LLMs safeguard my speech and my privacy against analysis. Read: https://forum.map-union.org/viewtopic.php?t=1797
My basic question in this AMSC criminality context; why they treat "adult child intimate bodily contact" that can bring enormous joy to both as "imbalance of power" only in sexual matters but not in other matters which also involves adult child intimate body contacts especially in many other child affectionate loving matters which entails affectionate body touch. At the end, if I may allowed to ask an extremely sensitive question; what about the mothers breast feeing their children.
being fully developed until 25 actually true or is it a load of nonsense. There are people saying it is factual but is it really and is it really accurate?
being fully developed until 25 actually true or is it a load of nonsense. Is that even accurate and are there any evidence that proves it is nonsense
