Brain Development During Adolescence

Welcome everyone to the adolescent brain! Have you ever wondered why your older sister or your best friend is happy one minute then angry the next? Do not fret, it is a normal thing that happens to all of us once we become teenagers. a normal thing with puberty. Mood swings are things all teenagers undergo through because the hormones are in control of their body while you go through puberty. This causes the emotions to be out of whack with the rest of their body!They are all over the place; going up and down, side to side. Wanna learn more? Well then get your popcorn, get comfy, and let us dive into the truth of the adolescent brain. The adolescent brain is a rather young brain; it is not completely developed. There are a couple different

Mascarelli, Amanda Leigh. " The Teenage Brain." Student Science. Society for Students & the Public, 17 Oct. 2012. Web.

The author of the article states that there is no better time than now to review how we are raising teenagers for many reasons. First and foremost there have been many strides taken recently to understand how the adolescent brain develops, strengthening ones understanding, and in turn, shedding light on errors made in the way adolescents are being raised in relation to their neuro-development. This means that because scientists have learned substantial information about the brain recently, it is important to reevaluate how parents are raising teenagers now more than ever. Second, according to the article it is a good time to review how we are raising teenagers because children are becoming adolescents earlier based on their physical maturation increasing faster each year, therefore it is important to examine why this is occurring. Finally, the author states that there is no better time to review how we are raising teenagers because of the recent discovery that the brain is malleable during adolescence due to neuroplasticity, meaning that the brain is able to be transformed during this time period solely based on the environment in which these individuals are exposed to, as per the article (Steinberg, 2014).

The article “Inside the Teen Brain’ by Marty Wolner, states that the human brain provides parents with shocking new evidence to possibly explain the sometimes irrational, illogical, and impulsive behavior of teenagers. Teenage years are radically more active and dynamic than they previously thought. So teenagers are left with most of the information reaching their brains being processed in the emotional part (limbic system). Information processed in the limbic system without benefit increases the processing in the prefrontal cortex. It may result in impulsive, egocentric, and maybe even risky behavior choices. The prefrontal cortex of the teenage brain does not excuse inappropriate or irresponsible behavior from the teen. The brain is not yet

The three most important structural changes in the brain that occur during adolescence takes place in the Corpus Callosum, Prefrontal Cortex, and the Limbic System. The Corpus Callosum is a bundle of axon fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres together. In adolescence, this part of the brain thickens to improve information processing. The Prefrontal Cortex is involved in judgement, decision making, reasoning, and self-control. In adolescents, this part of the brain is beginning to develop and be used more

During adolescence the teenagers become more risky (take more risks), the frontal lobe (the brakes) are not fully developed so it can’t cope with the temporal lobe (accelerator) which can’t control itself, energetic, adventurous, independent, they will become more independent because of peer influence and just because it’s a sort of natural thing, more rebellious, again peer influenced, intellectual, the older you get the wiser you become, self-conscious, once again peers influence this e.g. fashion appearance, better at making decisions, as the frontal lobe (the brakes) is developing it become easier to make decisions on your own, and either social or unsocial, social= you have a strong relationship with your friends, unsocial= you have a strong internet connection with your friends.

When one compares the structure of the adult brain and the teenage brain, there will be several differences between the two. Adults have stronger connections from one nerve cell to another, and they all have essential communication skills. However, teenagers have more synapses and have weaker nerve connections. Also, their frontal lobes aren 't fully developed. This causes adolescence to have impulsive behavior and they typically do not recognize consequences in a situation. In the early twenties the brain becomes fully developed, so people are very good at making decision and they are able to think abstractly. There are many factors that contribute to the construction of the brain; some things help the brain develop normally, other things interrupt the process. There is a substantial amount of distinctions between the adult brain and the adolescent brain, and these includes behavioral and structural differences.

Are you under 25? If you are, how well do you think your brain is developed? In the video “The Teen Brain: Under Construction” claims that the brain is finished developing around the age of 25. This assertion starts many arguments on whether an 18 year olds should be considered an adult. Many say that 18 year olds should be considered adults, but many disagree. I deem that 18 year olds should not be considered adults, because their brains are not fully developed yet.

Based upon scientific findings, the adolescent brain is constantly growing and changing. The character Romeo, in Shakespeare’s famous play, displays how his adolescent brain is growing and changing. For instance, in the play, it states,”She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair, to merit bliss by making me more despair.” (1.1. 218-219) This quote reveals that Romeo is deeply in love with Rosaline but as his youthful brain changes he quickly falls in love with Juliet with little knowledge of her. Not to mention, in the article, Are teenage brains really different from adult brains, it conveys, “Teenagers experience a wealth of growth in synapses during adolescence” (Edmonds). This small excerpt informs us that the synapses that help us make reasonable decisions are at an increase. In the same source, another significant

The teenage brain is different from the adult brain version because it is not fully developed. The part of the brain used for emotions like rage and fright, the amygdala is much more developed than the frontal cortex (used for thinking through your thoughts). The way scientists found this out was pictures of Teen’s brains in action. (Teen Brain…). This would explain why teens tend to be more angry and impulsive compared to adults. Teens have a higher chance of impulsive acting, starting fights, do risky behaviors, etc. Knowledge of the teen’s frontal cortex’s lack of development can assist guardians, teachers, and lawmakers in unlocking the answers on management on how to manage adolescent behavior.

Sarah Spinks, in her article “Adolescent Brains are Works in Progress” explains about the critical changes in teenage brain and its effects on them. It reports the studies by various scientist regarding the development of prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, and cerebellum of the brain along with the phenomenon of pruning.

The changes in adolescence brain create a dimension that will be difficult in making the right choices in human agency and the decision or actions of the adolescence is unpredictable, because their thinking capacity in choice making is still developing. This changes in the brain is constantly being influences by multiple interaction.

Take this time to conceptualize the differences between the average adolescent brain and the adult brain. Perhaps the most logical thought that may come to mind is that adolescents are immature. Teenagers usually tend to shun a lot of the most important people around them, live within their own fantasies, and become oblivious to the realities that exist around them. Whereas when you think of adults, you imagine a sophisticated human being who is able to make  decisions for oneself, and even the word adult itself means “grown up and mature”. In Shakespeare 's famous play, Romeo and Juliet, even if they tried to be mature, the seed of Romeo and Juliet 's troubles that occurred during their forbidden love was their lack of immaturity they possessed and the poor decisions they acted upon due to the undeveloped mindset they held; however, as well as the teenagers, at times, the adults, including the most holy and trusted ones, lacked of wisdom, and they too, committed serious mistakes.

The brain's white matter, prefrontal cortext responds to judgment and impulse control is different in adolescent than adult. During adolescent, teenagers can easily be more frustrated and upset for no reason, while the adult are calmer with the emotion. This also true because when I was in my teenage years, if things wasn't going according to what I want, I would be upset with everything around me.

The article “Inside the Teen Brain” by Marty Woltner, states that recent information on the human brain gives new information to parents and explains the behavior of teens. Even though the brain is almost physically mature the grey matter in the thinking part of the brain( Pre-Frontal Cortex).Without benefit of higher level processing in the prefrontal cortex may result in risky behavior. Each interaction with a teenager will affect development of his or her brain, helping the teen make connections in the prefrontal cortex. During this time of heavy construction. As parents decide how to more efficiently communicate with the developing teen brain, it’s vital to also consider who a child actually is, and what kind of parenting styles the child