The article “Dude, Where’s My Frontal Cortex?” by Robert Sapolsky talks about the delayed maturation of the frontal cortex in teenagers and how the underdeveloped frontal cortex is the cause of erratic behavior of teenagers. Sapolsky explains to the reader how the frontal cortex does not fully develop until the age of twenty for a person and how that part of the brain is important for extensive reasoning, impulse control, and emotional regulation. He shows the reader how particularly emotional situations affect both a teenager and an adult differently due to either having or not having a matured frontal cortex. This example that he uses allows for the reader to see how a teenager responds to situations with extreme thoughts and behavior which
Researchers can look at the brain of a teen to examine their behavioral decisions.Teenage brains these years are more active and dynamic which means it’s still developing.Processing in the Limbic system is a result of risky behavior.The construction of a teenage thinking brain is not cable of fully processing necessary to make responsible decisions.At this stage the brain is still developing.The brain changes depending on interactions, helpimg the teen make changes. At this time the brain will need focused and support for a healthy connection.Surrounding impacts the child faces such as challenging situations is an effective technique.Parents need to consider the teens emotional
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
David Dobbs in the Article “Beautiful Brains” proves the theme that it takes teenage brains longer to mature due to the recent change in impulsivity and adolescent behaviors.
Teens are wild, mad, insane, and occasionally deranged. We’ve all seen it, and if it wasn’t obvious enough then read “The Terrible Teens” by Elizabeth Kolbert. In her essay, she uses various rhetorical devices such as, metaphors, and climatic word order to keep her writing intriguing. She even keeps the essay credible by showing personal examples of her own teens. Throughout Kolbert’s essay, she effectively uses rhetorical devices, and methods of development to help establish the idea that neurology helps to explain teenagers wild behaviour.
Have you ever wondered about the functions of the adolescent brain and what causes teenagers and other adolescents to make many risky and absurd decisions sometimes? Did you ever think about the man Phineas Gage who became a textbook case for a severe brain accident in his prefrontal cortex, and how the accident in his brain might have altered it to the point where it would be similar to the adolescent brain?“Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science” by John Fleischman gives examples with evidence about how Phineas’s brain and behavior was transformed after his severe injury involving the prefrontal cortex. This injury causing the prefrontal cortex damaged many important neural connections, that it sent him and his brain
In the article “Teenagers, Friends and Bad Decisions”, scientists concluded the effects of peer pressure on teenagers and adults, and the differences between the reactions of a teen and an adult to such situations. Similar research on age was published in the article, “The Teen Brain: Behavior, Problem Solving, and Decision Making” in which the importance of the amygdalae and frontal cortexes was researched. In Romeo and Juliet, a Shakespearean tragedy, young Romeo makes foolhardy decisions as a result of his peers’ influence on him, and his young age. The same research on age was conducted by researching the amygdalae and frontal cortexes.
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 Teenage Brain” by Marty Wolner states that recently, brain researchers have been able to do a great quantity of detailed studies on the human brain. Despite previous thoughts about the teenage brain, development of the brain through the teenage years is very dynamic. The teenage brain is still learning how to process certain information properly in the thinking part of the brain, so often teens may not process all the information necessary to make responsible decisions. Nevertheless, the teenage years can be very stressful for both parents and for teens. Getting through the teenage years can be difficult, but with the right amount of healthy communication, discipline and support the road ahead won’t be so rough. At this
It just may happen to be true that the greatest threats to the safety of young adolescents is young adolescents themselves or perhaps even society’s way of dealing with adolescents. At any age throughout the psychological development of the brain, the thought process is bound to be affected by environmental factors which later appear in manifestations attributed singularly to young adolescents such as binge drinking and higher mobile vehicle fatalities. In teenagers an important environmental factor often dictating their behavior is one simple somewhat expected part of life that modifies their behavior when compared to other age groups: peers. An individual at any age shows the same level of irrationality despite preconceived notions that teenagers and young adults have a higher propensity for such risky behavior. This
It turns out that the development of the brain through a teenagers life, greatly impacts the way they react to situations and the choices they make, whether it be good or bad. For example, when Romeo and Juliet fell in love, they didn’t exactly stop to think if the consequences would be bad or not, most logically explained by the ongoing development of the brain. Romeo and Juliet must have been using the amygdala, the part of the brain that is responsible for guiding instinctive reactions, to substitute as the prefrontal cortex, which would fundamentally describe Romeo and Juliet's behavior and why they decided to get married way to early. The development of the brain gives the brain no choice but to process information through a different part of the brain called the amygdala. The amygdala definitely helps to substitute for the prefrontal cortex, however it can also be responsible for reacting to a situation without thinking of the outcomes, which is why teengers, like Romeo and Juliet, sometimes make negligent and careless alternatives, which end up in bad consequences. The author of an article noting the development of teen brains explains how “[e]ven though the brain [of a teenager] is almost physically mature, the grey matter in the thinking part of the brain (pre-frontal cortex) is still making
The evidence shows that this specified area of the brain is under developed in teenagers, and that their impulses are not always thought out. Teen brains are underdeveloped when it comes to the decision making process is important information and should be taken into consideration when a juvenile is charged with any offense. In addition, with new found evidence of brain development being released doctors and psychologists seem to be in agreement that the findings should be taken seriously. For example, an article posted in the “Observer” in 2013 by Andrew Meriuzzi, Dr Helen Neville an internationally renowned psychologist and neuroscientist implies “Our biggest job will be to convince the public and policymakers to demand evidence and to evaluate evidence.” (Merluzzi 2013) Statements from credible sources may open the eyes to the public, that teenagers need to be evaluated thoroughly before being condemned to cells like rats. It is important to have the physiologists and scientists input so they the world can move forward with proper treatment of our youth. In relations, professionals and specialists are fully aware of a child's state of mind and are trying to alert the public to approach youth thoughtfully. Another strong quote from Dr. Neville comes in her cries for action “For the sake of the economy and the sake of the children, let’s take this evidence-based approach to reducing inequality,”. (Merluzzi 2013)Helen's plead sheds light that a teenager is
Adults and children are clearly different psychologically, they respond, react to, and comprehend things differently. Some research has been done to discover exactly why adolescents and adults behave differently. According to the studies, “frontal lobes [that] inhibit our violent passions,
While the dorsolateral cortex and orbital cortex are, “the outer and upper areas of the front of the brain, which is important for skills such as planning ahead and controlling impulses” and “the area of the brain which is important for evaluating risks and rewards” (Steinburg 2014). Both of these areas of the prefrontal cortex play a huge role in the adolescent years of our lives. The later these areas in the brain develop, the more time there is to behave in risky behavior, without first weighing the cost of said actions. Depending on the actions we take as an adolescent, they can affect our future drastically without us knowing. Research has shown that “full structural maturation of the pre-frontal cortex is not complete until mid-20s (Steinburg
The teen brain, quite an interesting thing isn’t it? In fact so interesting that brain researchers have created parta way to scan teenager’s brains to see how they work. As well as to observe why we make such impulsive decisions & take in risky behavior. Turns out there is a reason that we’re careless impulsive decision makers, it’s because our thoughts process though our libic system in our brains. Due to not having our pre-frontal cortex benefits we become impulsive.
People, especially at a young age, need to take risks and make mistakes for it will increase the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is the front part of the brain; this is where someone’s decision making and their personality lies. For an example, “Harlow JM first presented the case of Phineas Gage who was accidentally struck by a pointed iron bar projected by an explosion which inflicted massive damage to his frontal lobes, apparently destroying the left orbitomedial PFC, who went on to develop personality changes” ( Siddiqui, Chatterjee, Kumar, Siddiqui, Goyal). The prefrontal cortex holds all of the individual’s memories, emotional control, verbal expression, and gaze control as well. According to Piaget J, International University Press, “logical reasoning, which in turn depends upon the cognitive functions of the PFC ( prefrontal cortex), does not attain full development till age 12, which is the time when the prefrontal reaches full development. The greater period of development occurs at the age 6-9 years with more moderate effects between ages 9 and 12 years, and performance-moderating adult levels during adolescence and sometimes also until age 20” ( Piaget.J ). As people develop their prefrontal cortex develops they must go through experiences; good and bad. Many people do not realize that in order for the good to happen normally, they have to make mistakes and take