快猫短视频

I believe human brains undergo major rewiring during the teenage years. Does this also occur in other animals? A friend鈥檚 two-and-a-half-year-old horse seems to be showing 鈥渢eenage鈥� characteristics, repeatedly testing the boundaries of acceptable behaviour with the adults in the herd. It鈥檚 uncannily like my two teenage sons.

鈥� Some aspects of growth and maturation are common to many species, and animals often have different characteristics in each stage of this process. For example, the bodies and behaviour of insect larvae are specialised for the accumulation and storage of nutrients, whereas adult insects, if they feed at all, do so mainly for immediate fuel or reproduction, rather than growth and repair.

In this sense, human babies are larvae too 鈥� their morphology, physiology and psychology are specialised for developing into adults. The different growth stages suggest neurological changes 鈥� or rewiring, as the question says 鈥� which are influenced by experience and hormones.

To begin with, babies want food, and security. Children become curious about new things, establish roles among peers and avoid conflict with powerful seniors. Adolescents learn to shoulder their way cautiously into adult circles. Young adults establish their preferred world views and angrily resist change.

Many animals, including whales, elephants and primates seem to have similar phases and I have even seen analogous actions in reptiles. In horses, dogs, cats and others, to find such development is interesting, but not surprising. Their domestication depended on them being able to develop into mature, cooperative adults through this kind of process.

Jon Richfield, Somerset West, South Africa

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