During which stage of life does the majority of brain wiring occur?

The majority of brain wiring occurs during infancy, as this is a critical period for brain development where the foundations for future cognitive abilities, emotional responses, and social skills are established. During infancy, the brain undergoes rapid growth, forming an extensive network of neural connections or synapses as a response to experiences and stimuli from the environment.

The first few years of life are marked by a significant increase in synaptic connections, which allows infants to learn and adapt quickly to their surroundings. The environment and interactions with caregivers play a crucial role in shaping this wiring, as positive experiences can enhance brain development while lack of stimulation can hinder it. This foundational wiring sets the stage for further developments that occur in later childhood and adolescence, but the most critical and abundant synapse formation happens during infancy.

In contrast, while adolescence and early adulthood are important for refining and pruning these connections and for heightened cognitive functions, the initial wiring and foundational development occur primarily during infancy.