The Adolescent Brain

The main idea of the video, The Adolescent Brain, is that the teen brain goes mostly undeveloped until their 20’s. This research and data provides a new answer for people putting the heat of teenage behavior on hormones. The video layed out the main parts of the brain, and pointed out where and when it becomes developed in your lifetime. For example, the frontal lobe controls many functions like, self control, judgement, and emotional regulation. However, this area of the brain is not fully developed until later in life, for it is being fully reconstructed during adolescent years. The Temporal Lobe is involved with emotional maturity. This area isn’t fully developed until age 16, and is sometimes still developing after that. This explains many of the mistakes teenagers make throughout their
The Amygdala is responsible for instincts of the brain, and executive decisions, not the prefrontal cortex. It is in control of emotional decisions, because all of these emotional responses and feelings, are channeled to this area of the brain. However, one of the most undeveloped areas of the brain in adolescence, is perception of facial expression and perspective taking. Facial expressions are often misinterpreted in adolescence. For example, fear can often be read as anger, making the rest of the conversation confusing. Neuroscience, proves that these synapses are pruning during adolescence. If they aren’t used, they will lose these connections. These connections must be shaped with learning and positivity for them to be properly used in the future. In conclusion, middle school is looked at as a high risk period, but high school is equally as high risk. Many aspects of the brain go undeveloped until late adolescence until their 20’s. This time in children’s life are vital for learning, and positive development, so they can succeed in the future, and be set for