THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN By: Amalia Poulakos & Jeff Williams

Adolescence Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development that occurs between childhood and adulthood. This transition involves biological (i.e. pubertal), social, and psychological changes, though the biological or physiological ones are the easiest to measure objectively. Historically, puberty has been heavily associated with teenagers and the onset of adolescent developmenthuman developmentchildhoodadulthoodpubertal

Brain Development/Changes A key difference between adolescent and adult brains concerns the frontal lobe. During maturation, the human brain develops from front to back. The largest part of the brain, the frontal lobes, are in the front part of the cerebrum, the most sophisticated area of the brain. The size of the frontal lobes does not change significantly during the adolescent years but there are dramatic changes in their composition. Two processes are taking place at a rapid rate: pruning, the process by which unnecessary nerve synapses (gray matter) in the frontal lobe are eliminated) as well as myelination, involving white matter that envelops connections to stabilize them. This conversion of gray to white matter is critical to making the brain's operation more efficient and developing the neural networks regulating behavior. The frontal lobes regulate the amygdala, the brain's emotional center, which controls anger, fear, recklessness, and gut responses. In adolescents, the less developed prefrontal cortex affects the adolescent's ability for mental reasoning, decision-making, and assessment of consequences.

7 Grey and White Matter As Axons get myelinated, cells appear less grey and more white Why is this important? Myelinated axons allow for messages to travel much faster making areas of white matter much more efficient. Where does this happen? The frontal cortex!

8 Pruning of the brain A second wave of pruning happens in the frontal cortex only after puberty. Synaptic pruning is essential for the fine tuning of functional networks of brain tissue and of perceptual process There is also a large decrease in the density of synapses in the frontal cortex after puberty

According to recent studies and neuroimaging research the prefrontal cortex of the human brain, which controls planning, emotion, impulse control, and the ability to assess future consequences, is not fully developed until one is in their early- to mid- twenties. This research confirms that the distinction between teenagers and adults is more than one of age. It is one of physiological maturation. e-brain-or-lack-thereof.html

Depression/Risky Behavior The loss of neuronal excitation in adolescence is associated with a rise in depression, especially among adolescent females, suggesting a biological basis for the epidemiological finding that gender differences in depression start around the time of puberty. These biological changes combine with external sources of stress to increase the risk of suicide for youth in many countries of the world. Without a fully mature prefrontal cortex, adolescents may be more impulsive than adults and perhaps more susceptible to peer influences. This impulsiveness—especially in reactive decision making, as when faced with a situation or threatened to make an immediate decision—suggests the value of second chance programs. As the brain matures during adolescence, alternations in the synaptic chemicals may influence learning (drugs for attention-deficit disorders improve information transfer at the level of the neuronal synapse). For example, antidepressive drugs may allow for certain excitatory neurotransmitters to stay in the space between two brain cells longer than otherwise. _adolescent.html

11 What is Changing? Neurological –Limbic System Emotions –Frontal Lobes Rationality Hormones

12 For Teachers & Staff During adolescence the brain develops new abilities in rational thinking Teens are more likely than adults to respond emotionally to events What are some ways we can help adolescent students in this area? (Discussion)

13 What we can do Use Metacognition –Helps students become more aware of their thinking Remind students of skills they are using –Planning, reasoning, metacognition, self motivation, or emotional management Be Patient! Don’t Compare students 13

14 Frontal Lobe Critical thinking Planning Logic Problem solving Estimating consequences Imagine day to day tasks and interactions

15 Limbic System Emotional Center –Is part of “primitive brain” –Works like animals –alerts us if we are in danger –Starting point for anger and fear –Dominates decision making as kids

16 Conclusion Teenagers can exhibit risky behaviors, and can be more susceptible for depression/substance abuse The effects of neurological changes can cause a person to have higher executive function and impulse control This reorganization leads to more preparedness for work and social life

17 References The Adolescent Brain. Chapter 8. School Connect. Developing self-Awareness and Self-Management. Module 2. pg