The Adolescent Brain

Janet Matthews and Sarah Ramowski

Adolescent EvolutionAdolescent Evolution

ages 11 – 24ages 11 – 24 Amygdala drivenAmygdala driven Dopamine sensitiveDopamine sensitive Filter deficientFilter deficient Risk proneRisk prone Sensation-seekingSensation-seeking

– Peer presencePeer presence

Learning LadderLearning Ladder

Novice to expertNovice to expert

Unconscious; incompetent

Conscious; incompetent

Conscious; competent

Unconscious; competent

Functional EvolutionFunctional Evolution

Amphibian ~ MammalAmphibian ~ Mammal Autopsy ~ MRIAutopsy ~ MRI Primitive ~ CerebralPrimitive ~ Cerebral MyelinationMyelination

Emotional evolutionEmotional evolution

AffectAffect Shame ~ GuiltShame ~ Guilt Eustress ~ distressEustress ~ distress Self talk emergesSelf talk emerges Puberty ~ maturityPuberty ~ maturity

Adolescent Prevention MessagesAdolescent Prevention Messages

RepetitionRepetition Fiber tract sculptingFiber tract sculpting Myelinates tractsMyelinates tracts

PruningPruning Lifestyle impactLifestyle impact

Increase voluntary controlIncrease voluntary control Brain > MindBrain > Mind

The Big PictureThe Big Picture

Adolescence is incredibly exciting time in Adolescence is incredibly exciting time in brain development…therefore, also crucial brain development…therefore, also crucial that we nurture adolescent brainsthat we nurture adolescent brains

Change our thinking about adolescents and Change our thinking about adolescents and risk takingrisk taking

How Do We Know What We How Do We Know What We Know?Know?

MRI pictures show MRI pictures show brain structures & brain structures & sites of activitysites of activity

New: DTI (diffusion New: DTI (diffusion tenor imaging) tenor imaging) shows color images shows color images of neural fibers that of neural fibers that transmit signalstransmit signals

The PhysicalThe Physical

““AA” sites in AA” sites in brain – brain – “Appearance “Appearance Attractiveness” Attractiveness” – 5x higher in – 5x higher in youth than youth than adultsadults

The EmotionalThe Emotional

Compared to adult brain, adolescent brain Compared to adult brain, adolescent brain perceives emotions at 2-4x the intensityperceives emotions at 2-4x the intensity

Adolescents have 3 basic needs in coping Adolescents have 3 basic needs in coping with emotional intensity: with emotional intensity:

1) Listen; 2) Validate; 3) Support good choices1) Listen; 2) Validate; 3) Support good choices Adults often use 3 “D’s”: Adults often use 3 “D’s”:

1) 1) DenyDeny 2) 2) DiminishDiminish 3) 3) DisrespectDisrespect

Emotional SafetyEmotional Safety

Setting the rules for emotional safety is Setting the rules for emotional safety is crucialcrucial for promoting safety and healthy for promoting safety and healthy positive development among youth. positive development among youth.

Compliments given to adolescents should Compliments given to adolescents should be very careful – based on behavioral be very careful – based on behavioral observationsobservations

Problem SolvingProblem Solving

THP helps adults cope in crisis (calming THP helps adults cope in crisis (calming effect), but in youth it causes effect), but in youth it causes anxiety/apprehensionanxiety/apprehension

““You need to calm down” is not effective in You need to calm down” is not effective in the moment when THP is activatedthe moment when THP is activated

Avg 13.6 yrs when youth shift to willingness Avg 13.6 yrs when youth shift to willingness to engage adults in open conflict – this is to engage adults in open conflict – this is NORMAL developmentNORMAL development

Risk TakingRisk Taking

Risk Risk Reward in Adolescent Brains via Reward in Adolescent Brains via Nucleus AccumbensNucleus Accumbens

Teens need safe risk-taking opportunitiesTeens need safe risk-taking opportunities

Preventing risk-taking: here and now of Preventing risk-taking: here and now of consequences, not futureconsequences, not future

Risk Taking & the InternetRisk Taking & the Internet

Perspective takingPerspective taking Future thoughtFuture thought Online disinhibition Online disinhibition

effecteffect Virtual Mystery Tour:Virtual Mystery Tour:

healthysexedu.blogspot.comhealthysexedu.blogspot.com

Substance UseSubstance Use

AvoidAvoid BoredomBoredom 10 – 14 is key window to avoid for alcohol 10 – 14 is key window to avoid for alcohol

useuse Brain is beyond plasticity window, and this is Brain is beyond plasticity window, and this is

the time where cell mapping & migration the time where cell mapping & migration process is the highestprocess is the highest

Substance UseSubstance Use

Pathways activated by alcohol in < 22 y.o. Pathways activated by alcohol in < 22 y.o. brains can remain excited for 48 hrs after brains can remain excited for 48 hrs after drinking, brain cells self-destructdrinking, brain cells self-destruct

Having a male older sibling, especially for Having a male older sibling, especially for boys, is a risk factor for trying drugs/alcohol boys, is a risk factor for trying drugs/alcohol (often the “first route” into drugs/alc). (often the “first route” into drugs/alc).

Effects of marijuana on brain are Effects of marijuana on brain are increasingly unknown (depending on increasingly unknown (depending on delivery system)delivery system)

Gender DifferencesGender Differences

Female brains have average 29% more Female brains have average 29% more verbal capacity (relative to brain size overall) verbal capacity (relative to brain size overall) vs. male brainsvs. male brains

Are girls “more emotional” than boys? No.Are girls “more emotional” than boys? No. Positive self-esteem between ages 9-10 and Positive self-esteem between ages 9-10 and

13-14: for boys it drops 12-20%, for girls it 13-14: for boys it drops 12-20%, for girls it drops 20-38%drops 20-38%

Take Away MessagesTake Away Messages

Emotions, reasoning, and decision-making Emotions, reasoning, and decision-making are all under construction during are all under construction during adolescenceadolescence

Time of vulnerability AND capabilityTime of vulnerability AND capability Adults can help by de-personalizing teenage Adults can help by de-personalizing teenage

behaviorbehavior Adolescents need positive adult framing & Adolescents need positive adult framing &

support for making good choicessupport for making good choices

ResourcesResources

1.1. The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress. The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress. The The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. www.teenpregnancy.org/resources/reading/pdf/BRAIN.pdfwww.teenpregnancy.org/resources/reading/pdf/BRAIN.pdf

2.2. Brizendine, Luann. Brizendine, Luann. The Female BrainThe Female Brain..

3.3. The Dana Foundation. www.dana.org (new The Dana Foundation. www.dana.org (new relevant research in brain development)relevant research in brain development)

4.4. The Brain Connection. The Brain Connection. www.brainconnection.comwww.brainconnection.com