Many teens look so much like adults, people think they are capable of acting like adults. People know from their behavior that this is not the case. Often, when faced with youthful impulsivity, hormones or the wrong friends or something parents have done wrong must be to blame.
Teenagers do not look as complete in brain development as researchers previously thought. According to Barbara Strauch, the medical science and health editor of the New York Times, in her recent book, The Primal Teen [First Anchor Books Edition, September 2004], the notion that the brain was complete at age 13 or 14 has been thrown away. The latest neuroscience is finding that structural changes are not finished until age 25 or so. And, although there are numerous hormones involved, brain development plays a larger part in teen impulses. Perhaps even larger than hormoines.
An Explosion In Teen Brains
According to many researchers, teens experience brain development that is rivaled only during infancy. It appears that just before birth and until one or two, a person's brain explodes with cell development bringing the number of connections (synapses) to twice adult levels. Previously, it was believed that the number of synapses then declined to adult levels at 16 or 17.
Few studies focused on teenagers until recently. That is how the notion that developmental growth was finished early in life came to be. However, studies by Dr. Jay Giedd at the National Institutes of Health have shown that, right before puberty, another growth spurt takes place particularly in what is called the frontal lobes, just behind the forehead. The spurt peaks at puberty when the volume of synapses is far above adult levels and then reverses itself until "normal" adult levels are reached usually far past 20.
Another important thing to understand is the function of the frontal lobes. They are the decision makers. They are the policemen, chief executive and conscience. The frontal lobes reason, plan ahead, make judgments, and resist impulses.
The Brain Is a "Use It Or Lose It" Organ
Also very important to understand is the process of "pruning" that happens after the growth. This is structural development of an immature brain because specialization occurs. The things teenagers concentrate on during "pruning" are the cells and communication pathways that remain. Unused parts die out. That is why the teenage brain is not finished while declining in synapse numbers.
Because these brain functions develop late, people shouldn't be so surprised when teenagers have trouble making decisions. Researchers believe that during pruning, the teenage brain may be more susceptible to damage and more easily "wounded". That doesn't mean that parents shouldn't discipline or have high expectations of kids. But understanding may help take the high level of emotion, particularly anger and frustration, out of interactions with them. That can only help everyone, as high blood pressure is often a major focus when people are old enough to have teens in the house.
Strauch's book is filled with many more examples of new knowledge of teenage brain development. It is recommended for anyone interested in understanding the mysteries of teenage behavior.
Michael Rohling - Mike is the Manager of Youth and Family Interventions at Southern Illinois Regional Social Services (SIRSS) in Carbondale, Illinois. He ...
