Adolescence is a window of opportunity for developing a smarter, faster brain in preparation for more advanced skills needed in adulthood. These incredible changes in the adolescent brain are often described as “neuroplasticity”. Neuro = brain and “plasticity” describes the adaptations that the brain makes in response to demands placed upon it.
From emotional to logical
The process of maturation of the brain largely follows a back to front direction. It starts from the emotional centres (amygdala) at the back of the brain towards the the prefrontal cortex. Think of the prefrontal cortex like a remote control for the television, necessary for planning, decision-making and problem solving. Until this part of the brain is fully developed, teenagers often rely on their emotional brain to make decisions. Helping teens to cope better with support around organisational skills and planning can make all the difference.
Jump in with both feet, or consider the consequences?
Adolescents have an increased emotional intensity giving them an enviable zest for life. However, without a fully mature logical control centre, they are often impulsive or reactive and take greater risks, without considering the implications of their decision.
Adolescents struggle to articulate their emotions and may find it difficult to read the emotions of others. They may therefore appear to overreact and situations may escalate beyond what is expected.
Preparing them for independence
Teens learn by their experiences, through trial and error developing an understanding of who they are and who they want to become. This may be at odds with their parents’ ideology and result in conflict. This phase is however, a vital stage in development of the adolescent brain and an opportunity for them to test boundaries and develop their personalities. It is essential if they are to become independent thinkers in an adult world.
Use it or lose it
During the teenage years, the adolescent brain starts to do some gardening. Any connections related to thinking and processing that are not being used get pruned, whilst other connections are strengthened to enable the adolescent brain to become more efficient. Consider the implications of this ‘use it or lose it’ principle. New experiences will stimulate more brain connections and new neural pathways, so how adolescents use their brain during this period influences its capacity. Parents and teachers need to provide multiple, varied opportunities for teens to be stimulated and get involved in new hobbies and develop their own interests.
Is brain development the same in boys and girls?
On average, girls achieve this phase of brain development earlier than boys and many of the ways in which the brain develops are different between the genders.
There are also large differences between individuals. Some children mature up to 3 years earlier than others and others up to 3 years later. Even within the same person, different systems, mature at different speeds. Their body might have developed as a man, they might look like a man, but their brain might still be highly immature. Care must be taken to avoid considering how they look with how they might behave. It is generally thought that on average, the adolescent brain does not mature until around the age of 25. Having expectations that young people will behave rationally, logically and without emotion before then is probably unrealistic.
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