Hormones: Structural Changes During Adolescence

At age two, most of the child's brain is not fully developed, it is seventy-five percent of adult weight. At age five the brain is ninety-five percent of adult weight. Based on solid scientific evidence, the brain is not a completed organ at birth. Post mortem studies reveal that myelination - one of the five basic processes that make up brain development begins in the brain stem and cerebellum before birth but is not completed in the frontal cortex of the brain until late adolescence period. Myelination process begins before birth, that is during the prenatal period - it is the first process to occur in brain development. Myelin, a fatty layer accumulates around nerve cells to allow nerve impulses to move more quickly - protecting the neuron and acting like an insulation for the human brain. The cerebral hemispheres are the first myelinated. By the second year, the cerebrum is completed. During the process of brain development, there is an increase in the axonal connection which contributes to the growth of the brain. According to neuroscientists, the brain is divided into two- the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere. The left side of the body is controlled by the right hemisphere, while the left side of the brain which is the dominant part controls the right side of the

Through the ages of 13 - 19 years a child/young adults brains development will increase in line with their co-ordination and reaction times. For girls by the age of 14 puberty will be complete and periods will be starting whereas with boys puberty will be between the ages of 13 – 16 years and they will become physically stronger than girls.

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.

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).

On this article talks about how a study found the massive lack of tissues that occurs as we grow up. Thompson explains the develop of the brain and how it damages the teenager, which at some points it can affect the decision and growth of the youth. The reason why I will use this article is because it explains how psychology and mentally the teenager does things without them knowing why.

List and describe the three most important structural changes in the brain during adolescence and how they change

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

Research on brain development shows that during the teenage years there is a massive loss of brain tissue. According to the article Startling Finds on Teenage Brains “Brain cells and connections are only being lost in the areas controlling

DEVELOPEMENTAL TOPICS PAPER A brain is a sensitive and crucial organ within the body. The brain sends out the proper signals to the rest of the body so the body can function properly, that is how the body was naturally designed. The brain is the control panel for the rest of the body. There are very crucial time periods where the brain needs certain stimuli’s to mentally grow and development normally.

Hormones found in food is causing early puberty in adolescents. In recent news article published by NBC News an eight year old girl started developing acne and breast. Her parents didn’t know how to cope with their daughter maturing at such an early age so they decided to take her to the doctor. There the little girl was diagnosed with early puberty and had to be treated with drug implants to slow down her sudden growth. Recent studies have shown that meat industry animals injected with synthetic growth hormones such as Zeranol, Trenbolone, and Melengestrol that leads to negatives effects to the people that consume the foods that the animals produce. Some of these hormones found in animals can throw off the natural chemical balance and affect your hormones. If children are consuming these foods with added hormones their natural balance may be thrown off which causes them to endure early puberty.

Estrogen is a steroid hormone which plays a crucial role in growth and maturation of both sexes. In the female reproductive system, estrogen targets tissues such as mammary glands, uterus, and ovaries. Bone formation has a significant positive relationship with estrogen from puberty to maturation and beyond (Clark et al., 1992). Post puberty estrogen is mainly synthesized and released from the ovaries in females. Through binding proteins or estrogen receptors (ER) found within the nucleus, estrogen is retained and affects specific target tissues throughout the body. Binding of estrogen to its receptor causes conformational change which in turn allows binding to chromatin and proceed with transcription of specific target genes (Murdoch

There are two specific glands that are needed for puberty, the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Both glands are located in the brain. The hypothalamus is responsible for many body functions including hunger, thirst and body temperature. The pituitary gland is a tiny organ that is directly attached to the hypothalamus. The glands work in tandem. The hypothalamus sends signals to the pituitary gland. When the pituitary gland receives a signal it reacts by making hormones that controls many bodily functions including puberty. Puberty begins when the hypothalamus releases the gonadotropin-releasing hormone. This special hormone signals the pituitary gland to release two additional hormones. These are the luteinizing hormone(LH) and the follicle-stimulating

1. Chapter 9, “Adolescence” Body and Mind,” section Puberty explains the physical and mental changes that teenagers go through, it’s the state in which they transition from children to young adults, incapable of completely just one or the other (Berger, 315). The first changes of puberty, physically-wise, begins around the ages of 9 – 13 years’ old for both boys and girls, which include facial and body hair, deepening of the voice, and of course body growth; such as the hands, feet, face, and private parts. Although genetics do play a role of the timing of these body changes, environmental, emotional, and cultural factors can also affect the time and age when puberty happens. Sometimes it’s delayed, other times the process is quicker than norm. “About two thirds of the variation of age of puberty is genetic, evident not only in families, but also in ethnic groups…precocious puberty is genetic, but the cause of the increase is largely unknown – perhaps childhood obesity or new chemicals in the environment” (Berger, 320-321). Among puberty, adolescents’ nutrition become poor due to body image…In addition, there eating disorders that teenagers discover during their transition, they are more “vulnerable to unhealthy eating,” and unlike childhood, “eating disorders increase drastically during puberty” (Berger, 325). This part of the chapter explains two major and serious types of eating disorders. Anorexia Nervosa is a voluntarily starvation in which a person will starve him or

There are five characteristics that all adolescents have. These characteristics are biological growth and development, an undefined status, increased decision-making, increased pressures, and the search for self. The brain and the endocrine system control biological growth and development. During the early stages of adolescence, individuals experience growth in height and weight, changes in the body, the development of sexual characteristics, and skin problems. For example, I started getting curves in my body when I hit puberty. My body started to develop changes. Our society’s expectations for children and adults are clear, but for the adolescent, expectations are inexplicit. Some adolescents are treated like children, but some are treated like adults. There is an undefined status. For example, my parents pay for my lunch, but I have to have a job so I can support myself.

From ancient China, there is an old saying that a man without moustache is bound to make slips. This means that young people cannot be trusted with important tasks because they are lacking in experience. Actually, it is not simply about the experience but the significant physical changes occurring in and sculpturing the brain that lead us from being childish to maturity. From infants to mature adults, three major changes are identified to be necessary for the brain to become well-developed and functioning: pruning, myelination, and delegation.