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The Adolescent Brain

The adolescent brain undergoes significant evolution from ages 11 to 24, marked by an amygdala-driven, dopamine-sensitive framework that often results in heightened risk-taking and sensation-seeking behaviors. Key insights include the emotional intensity perceived by adolescents, the need for emotional safety, and the effects of lifestyle on brain development. With effective support from adults, adolescents can manage their emotional and cognitive changes better. This resource outlines the brain's evolution, challenges like substance use, gender differences, and emphasizes the importance of nurturing healthy development during this critical period.

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The Adolescent Brain

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  1. The Adolescent Brain Janet Matthews and Sarah Ramowski

  2. Adolescent Evolution • ages 11 – 24 • Amygdala driven • Dopamine sensitive • Filter deficient • Risk prone • Sensation-seeking • Peer presence

  3. Learning Ladder • Novice to expert Unconscious; competent Conscious; competent Conscious; incompetent Unconscious; incompetent

  4. Functional Evolution • Amphibian ~ Mammal • Autopsy ~ MRI • Primitive ~ Cerebral • Myelination

  5. Emotional evolution • Affect • Shame ~ Guilt • Eustress ~ distress • Self talk emerges • Puberty ~ maturity

  6. Adolescent Prevention Messages • Repetition • Fiber tract sculpting • Myelinates tracts • Pruning • Lifestyle impact • Increase voluntary control • Brain > Mind

  7. The Big Picture • Adolescence is incredibly exciting time in brain development…therefore, also crucial that we nurture adolescent brains • Change our thinking about adolescents and risk taking

  8. How Do We Know What We Know? • MRI pictures show brain structures & sites of activity • New: DTI (diffusion tenor imaging) shows color images of neural fibers that transmit signals

  9. The Physical • “AA” sites in brain – “Appearance Attractiveness” – 5x higher in youth than adults

  10. The Emotional • Compared to adult brain, adolescent brain perceives emotions at 2-4x the intensity • Adolescents have 3 basic needs in coping with emotional intensity: 1) Listen; 2) Validate; 3) Support good choices • Adults often use 3 “D’s”: 1) Deny 2) Diminish 3) Disrespect

  11. Emotional Safety • Setting the rules for emotional safety is crucial for promoting safety and healthy positive development among youth. • Compliments given to adolescents should be very careful – based on behavioral observations

  12. Problem Solving • THP helps adults cope in crisis (calming effect), but in youth it causes anxiety/apprehension • “You need to calm down” is not effective in the moment when THP is activated • Avg 13.6 yrs when youth shift to willingness to engage adults in open conflict – this is NORMAL development

  13. Risk Taking • Risk  Reward in Adolescent Brains via Nucleus Accumbens • Teens need safe risk-taking opportunities • Preventing risk-taking: here and now of consequences, not future

  14. Risk Taking & the Internet • Perspective taking • Future thought • Online disinhibition effect • Virtual Mystery Tour: healthysexedu.blogspot.com

  15. Substance Use • AvoidBoredom • 10 – 14 is key window to avoid for alcohol use • Brain is beyond plasticity window, and this is the time where cell mapping & migration process is the highest

  16. Substance Use • Pathways activated by alcohol in < 22 y.o. brains can remain excited for 48 hrs after drinking, brain cells self-destruct • Having a male older sibling, especially for boys, is a risk factor for trying drugs/alcohol (often the “first route” into drugs/alc). • Effects of marijuana on brain are increasingly unknown (depending on delivery system)

  17. Gender Differences • Female brains have average 29% more verbal capacity (relative to brain size overall) vs. male brains • Are girls “more emotional” than boys? No. • Positive self-esteem between ages 9-10 and 13-14: for boys it drops 12-20%, for girls it drops 20-38%

  18. Take Away Messages • Emotions, reasoning, and decision-making are all under construction during adolescence • Time of vulnerability AND capability • Adults can help by de-personalizing teenage behavior • Adolescents need positive adult framing & support for making good choices

  19. Resources • The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.www.teenpregnancy.org/resources/reading/pdf/BRAIN.pdf • Brizendine, Luann. The Female Brain. • The Dana Foundation. www.dana.org (new relevant research in brain development) • The Brain Connection. www.brainconnection.com

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