Have your parents ever yelled at you, “What is wrong with you?” It seems to them that teenagers are irrational, weird, even not quite normal. Because teens often act in ways inexplicable to adults, psychologists find them fascinating. And sure enough, the teenage brain really is different.
Three remarkable changes occur in the brain from age 12 to 25. First, the long nerve fibers called axons become more insulated with myelin, enhancing their transmission speed. Second, dendrites, the branching extensions that pass signals from neuron to neuron, develop more “twigs.” And third, the chemical connection points between brain cells—called synapses—get stronger. That’s a lot for a brain to accomplish, and the transformation doesn’t always proceed smoothly. Various physiological or emotional challenges can cause the developing brain to “misfire.” And as teens are getting used to their brains’ new capabilities, they may exhibit what one psychologist calls “neural gawkiness.” Hence the view that the teenage brain is an unkempt “work in progress.”
Psychologists who study the teenage brain seek to learn how we adapt from the world of childhood to that of adulthood. If the teen brain were just an unruly mess, how would the human species have survived? One advantage that a still-developing brain might provide is a tendency to seek out new experiences. By taking risks, the teenager learns about his or her expanding world, which is essential for becoming a functioning adult. Of course, risk-seeking can get teenagers into big trouble. Texting while driving, for example, is still stupid and dangerous, so don’t blame that fender-bender on your evolving brain!
Image credit: © Rolff Images/Fotolia
Related Links
- Beautiful Brains
This National Geographic article discusses the new view of the teenage brain at length. The photos were taken in Austin, Texas, and highlight local teenagers and their relationships. Click on “Photo Gallery” to see the images and read the informative captions.
(Source: National Geographic, October 2011) - Inside the Teenage Brain: Interviews
Drop in on interviews with leading researchers at this site for their views on the developing brain.
(Source: PBS Frontline; accessed November 30, 2011) - Inside the Teenage Brain: Interview: Jay Giedd
Jay Giedd is a neuroscientist at the National Institutes of Health. Mention of his research into the teenage brain appears in the National Geographic article.
(Source: PBS Frontline; accessed November 30, 2011) - Inside the Teenage Brain
This article provides specific examples of how brain function affects behavior.
(Source: Parade, November 28, 2010)
Important information on the development of the teenage brain. The students feel more intelligent and will make wise choices during this phase of development.
(continued) that is so funny that happened just 1 sec. ago “Have your parents ever yelled at you, “What is wrong with you?” It seems to them that teenagers are irrational, weird, even not quite normal. Because teens often act in ways inexplicable to adults…”
this is cool
very erelavent but also interesting
Twitter: It’s definitely fritarstung when it feels like the character is just Too Good with others or that the author is inserting their own educated insight into their characters.However, it still sounds like a book worth reading and a character worth getting to know.Lisa recently posted..