Did you reach your mid to late 20s and suddenly feel like a completely different person?

You're not alone.

It's a common story that many associate with the trope around the frontal lobe, and when it suddenly "snaps" into place. In that moment, you can can experience a sudden shift, altering the way you see the world and the decisions you make going forward. Social media is filled with anecdotes, jokes and colloquialisms describing this occurrence. Stories of people who's identity, career, beliefs and more all changed the moment they suddenly felt that connection to the front part of their brain.

@bebe_howellwish i was kidding when i say i felt it snap into place and i’ve not been the same person since♬ OH MA GAWD - Megan

But is there any actual science to back this up? Or is the frontal lobe snap more of a social media myth?

Neuroscientist and creator of DYFM podcast Alexis Fernández-Preiksa says that yes, there is some truth to this occurrence, but as with most things "it’s more complicated" than the way people describe on social media.

"The frontal lobe, specifically the prefrontal cortex, is your command centre for impulse control, understanding consequences to our actions, planning ahead, emotional regulation, and decision making," she said. It is one of the most complex parts of the brain that aids high-level thinking.

It means that an undeveloped prefrontal cortex has been associated with recklessness and poor choices, whereas a developed one is said to make us more empathetic and rational. While it is true that the prefrontal cortex does fully develop later than the rest of the brain, the idea of a "snap" is more an urban myth than something actually supported by science. This is what you need to know.

The frontal lobe does develop later – but it's a slow process rather than a "snap"

"The prefrontal cortex is one of the most complex brain regions and is a ‘newer’ addition to the brain from an evolutionary perspective," said Fernandez.

It is indeed one of the last parts of your brain to fully develop. "But the idea of ‘snapping’ is a myth for several reasons," she said.

This development is not a sudden connection. Fernández-Preiksa says it's a relatively slow and steady process by which the prefrontal cortex slowly reaches maturity. This occurs gradually over the course of your 20s. The idea of a switch suddenly flicking at 25 is not a phenomenon currently backed up by science.

Also, it's important to note brain development doesn't ever technically stop. "Although ‘maturity’ is reached in the prefrontal cortex by your mid to late 20s, the brain actually never stops evolving and developing," she said.

"This area does actually continue to develop and evolve – even once maturity is reached – depending on a range of different lifestyle factors."

Full maturity may not be reached until into your 30s

Researchers have often named 25 as a ballpark timeframe for prefrontal cortex maturity, but the age of full maturity varies vastly from person to person. Yes, there might be some people who experience significant development at 25 but others might need until  their early 30s to reach that same stage.

"Around the mid 20s into the early 30s is the general timeframe; newer research shows that it is more likely the latter," Fernández-Preiksa said.

The factors that influence this development timeframe are largely genetic, but environmental factors also play a role. This means that we do have some control over the development process – and there are beneficial habits we can engage in to ensure a more robust and smoother transition.

"Stress, trauma and substance abuse can slow down or interfere with development," she said. "But acquiring new skills, facing challenges, strong social connections can speed up the process."

Fernández-Preiksa says the brain in general – not just the prefrontal cortex – displays a kind of ‘adolescent’ phase of structural development until about 32. While the brain is always remodelling and changing, she says "at 32, we do start to see more stability in these networks."

The change can indeed make you feel like a different person

While the 'frontal lobe snap' is a myth, the changes your brain goes through during this time are undeniable. If you've reached your late 20s or early 30s in a completely different place – both physically and mentally – from where you were just a few years ago, just know it's normal.

"This feeling can be attributed to a few things," Fernández-Preiksa said. Yes, a developed and mature prefrontal cortex assists with more advanced decision making and better impulse control. But the whole process of your 20s is one of trial and error that your brain is actively learning from.

"The decade of your 20s is where you are very likely to change your environment, travel, meet other groups of people you have never been exposed to, and a time of self discovery."

Fernández-Preiksa says it's difficult to pinpoint the moment your own prefrontal cortex has fully developed, rather it's all these new experiences alongside your developing brain that can lead to a big shift in identity.

That said, a developed prefrontal cortex does not immediately stop someone from making poor decisions and being impulsive. While you might have the ability to better evaluate the choices laid out in front of you, a developed frontal lobe is not a magical switch.

Maturation happens via a process called pruning

Brain development and this 'maturation' is a rather unique process where the brain actually prunes neural connections.

"Where there is an overproduction of neural connections known as synaptogenesis, this is followed by a pruning back (synaptic pruning) of the connections that the brain deems to be unnecessary," Fernández-Preiksa explains. "Then Myelination occurs. This is where the connections are wrapped in an insulation to speed up signalling."

These processes make the brain more efficient, focusing its energy on the pathways it uses the most, and eliminating the ones it does not. Pruning can continue to occur throughout your whole life, not just your 20s. But, your 20s are an important time for structural growth and for your brain to decide which neural connections to actually keep. Opening yourself up to newness can offer your brain more information.

"Putting yourself in as many rooms as possible, experiencing new things, travel (if that is your thing), exploring what you could study. And make your relationships intentional. Putting effort into the friendships that serve you and learning what no longer does," she said. "By the time you reach your 30s, you will have a very good understanding of who you are."