When are you actually an adult? - Shannon Odell
601,337 Views
8,072 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Most countries recognize 18 as the start of adulthood by granting various freedoms and privileges. Yet there’s no exact age or moment in development that we can point to as having reached full maturity. If there’s no consensus on exactly when we reach maturity, when do we actually become adults? Shannon Odell shares how scientists define adulthood using stages of brain development.
There is not one single moment when someone becomes an adult. Explain why neuroscientists suggest that there are "waves" of maturity.
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
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, Gen Parton-Shin, May Yoshioka
- Storyboard Artist Wing Luo
- Animation Supervisor Amarello Rodrigues, Henrique Barone
- Lead Animator Murilo Jardim
- Animator Javier Ibañez , Paulina Juárez Mandujano
- Art Director Nuri Keli, Henrique Barone
- Illustrator Salvador Padilla
- Sound Designer Weston Fonger
- Composer Weston Fonger, Samuel Bellingham
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Producer Alexandra Zubak
- Associate Producer Abdallah Ewis
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Shannon Odell
- Expert Consultant Katie Insel , Bonnie Nagel
