If you find your teen still doing things that you both know they shouldn’t… don’t despair. Help is on the way, from their own brain. Here is some important information that describes the neurological changes that occur in teenager’s brains.
Adolescence starts at younger ages than previous generations
The average age that girls go into adolescence is between 10 and 11, when they reach 17% body fat. Boys go into adolescence between 12 and 13.
Teens are changing
Teenagers are going through a transitional time when the brain rewires itself for emotional attachment, reproduction, and ultimately the creation of a stable family structure, thus ensuring future generations.
There is a gap between intelligence and behavior
There can be a noticeable gap between intelligence and behavior during the teen years. We used to attribute this to the assault of a hormonal hurricane. There is actually a lot more going on in the different structures of the teenage brain that end up having long-term consequences.
The brain is becoming more efficient
The myelin sheathing, which insulates nerves, increases by 100% in teenagers. Myelin sheathing is responsible for the conduction of nerve impulses to the brain. As the nerves become twice as efficient, this feeds the intensity and speed of a person’s reaction.
There are lower Serotonin levels
The teen years are also time of the lowest levels of Serotonin in the human brain during human life. Serotonin is the primary transmitter in the limbic system, having to do with morale and moods. Low serotonin levels create a state in which a teen can become susceptible to stress and overwhelm.
The brain grows in stages
The brain does not grow in an orderly fashion. It first over-produces a bunch of connections that go to new parts of the brain. Then, in the later teen years-around age 16 through the mid-20’s-it starts eliminating connections based on how frequently they are used. The connections that remain determine who a person feels they are for the rest of their life.
The adolescent years continue into the 20’s
Did you know that the teenage brain does not complete development until close to age 25? Yes, something called the pre-frontal cortex, which is responsible for impulse control and operates much like the CEO of a company, does not come online fully until your child’s mid-twenties.
To read more on how The Teen Brain: It's Just Not Grown Up Yet, click here
SandraDupontMFT.com
Teen Therapist/Adolescent Phase of Life Coach
Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills
tags: find a teen therapist, parenting teens, teen advice, teen depression, teen peer pressure, teen self esteem, teen support groups, teenagers problems
Comments
This is a fascinating article. It is also proof that most people should wait past 25 before getting married. That way they will fully comprehend who they are and then can make good choices for mates.
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