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What’s the smartest age? - Shannon Odell

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9,426 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Tomorrow is the annual Brain Clash — a decathlon of mental challenges, trivia competitions, and puzzles. Amir needs a smart and capable teammate and must choose between three people; all of different ages and talents. So, who should Amir choose for the contest? Shannon Odell breaks down the idea of “smart” and explores how our brain development impacts our skills at various stages of our lives.

WatchThink Dig Deeper Discuss
During a process known as synaptogenesis, our brains undergo rapid growth in the first few years of life, in which more than ______ new neural connections are formed every ______.

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Shannon Odell
  • Director Biljana Labović
  • Narrator Alexandra Panzer, Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Wing Luo
  • Art Director Nuri Keli, KERO Animation studio
  • Animation Supervisor Amarello Rodrigues
  • Lead Animator Murilo Jardim, KERO Animation studio
  • Sound Designer Weston Fonger
  • Composer Weston Fonger
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Alexandra Zubak
  • Associate Producer Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Shannon Odell

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