The growth of the brain and skull in children.

Published data for brain weight and head circumference in children were examined to determine whether there was evidence for development of brain size in 'spurts' rather than continuously. Graphical methods and various statistical analyses were used to detect significant deviations from a smooth progression in growth of the brain or skull. No convincing evidence for other than normal statistical sampling variations was found for either brain size or head circumference. It is premature to begin reorganization of school curriculae on the grounds that the brains of children grow in spurts.