The Adolescent Brain

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The Adolescent Brain
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Frontline Inside the Teenage Brain

• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teen
  brain/

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The Brain

• Weighs about 3 pounds
• The most complicated mass of matter in the known
  universe.
• Contains over 10 billion neurons and another 100
  billion support cells.
• Eventually forms over 100 trillion connections.

• Brain controls ALL activity
• Constantly changing and adapting
• Neurons are capable of re-routing circuits

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Terminology

• Neurons
• Specialized cells that transmit information to
  other nerve cells or muscles.
• Axon
• An electricity conducting fiber that carries
  information away from the cell body.

• Dendrite
• Receives messages from other neurons
• Synapse
• Contact point where one neuron communicates
  with another neuron.

Source Sullivan, 2006
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Source University of Utah, 2006
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Brain Development

• 2 stages
• Growth spurts or overproduction of neurons
• Pruning
• Growth spurts are seen at younger ages
• Pruning happens during adolescence
• Use it or lose it

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BRAIN STRUCTURES

• Frontal Lobe
• Parietal Lobe
• Temporal Lobe
• Occipital Lobe

• Cerebellum
• Corpus Callosum
• Brain Stem

Source University of Utah, 2006
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Source University of Utah, 2006
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Frontal Lobe

• Responsible for
• Personality, judgment, reasoning, problem
  solving, rational decision making,
• Logic and understanding of consequences
• Governs impulsivity, aggression,
• Organizing thoughts, planning for the future
• Undergoes significant changes during adolescence
• Not fully developed until mid-20s.

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Prefrontal Cortex

• Part of the frontal lobe
• Helps with impulse control, judgments, reasoning
• One of the last areas of the brain to develop
  fully.
• During this time, there is an increased need for
• Structure, mentoring, and guidance from adults

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Temporal Lobes

• Control hearing, understanding speech, sorting
  new information and short-term memory
• Contains
• Amygdala and hippocampus
• Matures around 18-19 years of age.

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The Teenage Brain

• Underdevelopment of frontal cortex leads to
• More gut reactions than reasoning
• More likely to use amygadala (emotions) than
  prefrontal cortex (reasoning) for information
  processing.
• It takes experience to train the brain.