{"id":997,"date":"2020-07-08T03:51:29","date_gmt":"2020-07-08T03:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/adolescent\/?post_type=chapter&p=997"},"modified":"2021-06-03T14:31:25","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T14:31:25","slug":"brain-changes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/adolescent\/chapter\/brain-changes\/","title":{"raw":"Brain Changes during Adolescence","rendered":"Brain Changes during Adolescence"},"content":{"raw":"During adolescence, brain cells continue to bloom in the frontal region. Some of the most developmentally significant changes in the brain occur in the\u00a0prefrontal cortex<\/strong>, which is involved in\u00a0decision making\u00a0and cognitive control, as well as other higher cognitive functions.\u00a0During adolescence,\u00a0myelination<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0synaptic pruning<\/strong>\u00a0in the prefrontal cortex increases, improving the efficiency of information processing, and neural connections between the prefrontal cortex and other regions of the brain are strengthened.\u00a0However, this growth takes time, and the growth is uneven.\r\n
\r\n

The Limbic System<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>\r\nThe\u00a0limbic system<\/strong>\u00a0develops years ahead of the prefrontal cortex. Development in the limbic system plays an important role in determining rewards and punishments and processing emotional experience and social information. Pubertal hormones target the\u00a0amygdala<\/strong>\u00a0directly, and powerful sensations become compelling (Romeo, 2013).\u00a0Brain scans confirm that cognitive control, revealed by fMRI studies, is not fully developed until adulthood because the prefrontal cortex is limited in connections and engagement (Hartley & Somerville, 2015).\u00a0Recall that this area is responsible for judgment, impulse control, and planning, and it is still maturing into early adulthood (Casey, Tottenham, Liston, & Durston, 2005).\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n

Figure 5.3.1.<\/strong>\u00a0The limbic system.<\/p>\r\nAdditionally, changes in both the levels of the neurotransmitters\u00a0dopamine<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0serotonin<\/strong>\u00a0in the limbic system make adolescents more emotional and more responsive to rewards and stress. Dopamine\u00a0is a neurotransmitter in the brain associated with pleasure and attuning to the environment during decision-making. During adolescence, dopamine levels in the\u00a0limbic system\u00a0increase, and the input of dopamine to the prefrontal cortex increases.\u00a0The increased dopamine activity in adolescence may have implications for adolescent risk-taking and vulnerability to boredom.\u00a0Serotonin is\u00a0involved in the regulation of mood and behavior. It affects the brain in a different way. Known as the \u201ccalming chemical,\u201d serotonin eases tension and stress. Serotonin also puts a brake on the excitement and sometimes recklessness that dopamine can produce. If there is a defect in the serotonin processing in the brain, impulsive or violent behavior can result.\r\n

\r\n

The Prefrontal Cortex<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>\r\nThe prefrontal cortex, the part of the frontal lobes lying just behind the forehead, is often referred to as the \u201cCEO of the brain,\u201d the cognitive control center. This brain region is responsible for cognitive analysis, abstract thought, the moderation of \u201ccorrect\u201d behavior in social situations, the capacity to exercise good judgment, self-regulation, and future orientation The prefrontal cortex takes in information from all of the senses and orchestrates thoughts and actions to achieve specific goals (Casey, Jones, & Hare, 2008; Walsh, 2004). Around 11 years of age, this region of the brain begins an extended process of pruning and myelination and is not complete until near the age of 25. This is one of the last regions of the brain to reach maturation. This delay may help to explain why some adolescents act the way they do. The so-called \u201cexecutive functions\u201d of the human prefrontal cortex include:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Focusing attention<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Organizing thoughts and problem-solving<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Foreseeing and weighing possible consequences of behavior<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Considering the future and making predictions<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Forming strategies and planning<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Ability to balance short-term rewards with long term goals<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Shifting\/adjusting behavior when situations change<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Impulse control and delaying gratification<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Modulation of intense emotions<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Inhibiting inappropriate behavior and initiating appropriate behavior<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Simultaneously considering multiple streams of information when faced with complex and challenging information<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\"\"\r\n

    Figure 5.3.2.<\/strong> Brain development continues into the early 20s. The development of the frontal lobe, in particular, is important during this stage.<\/p>\r\nThe difference in timing of the development of the limbic system and prefrontal cortex contributes to more risk-taking during adolescence because adolescents are motivated to seek thrills that sometimes come from risky behavior, such as reckless driving, smoking, or drinking, and have not yet developed the cognitive control to resist impulses or focus equally on the potential risks (Steinberg, 2008).\u00a0One of the world\u2019s leading experts on adolescent development, Laurence Steinberg, likens this to engaging a powerful engine before the braking system is in place. The result is that adolescents are more prone to risky behaviors than are children or adults.\r\n

    \r\n

    Brain Region Integration<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>\r\nMRI studies of the brain show that developmental processes tend to occur in the brain in a back-to-front pattern, explaining why the prefrontal cortex develops last. These studies have also found that teens have less white matter (myelin) in the frontal lobes of their brains when compared to adults, but this amount increases as the teen ages. With more myelin comes the growth of important brain connections, allowing for a better flow of information between brain regions. MRI research has also revealed that during adolescence, white matter increases in the corpus callosum, the bundle of nerve fibers connecting the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This allows for enhanced communication between the hemispheres and enables a full array of analytic and creative strategies to be brought to bear in responding to the complex dilemmas that may arise in a young person\u2019s life (Giedd, 2004).\r\n\r\nIn sum, the adolescent years are a time of intense brain changes. Interestingly, two of the primary brain functions develop at different rates. Brain research indicates that the part of the brain that perceives rewards from risk, the limbic system, kicks into high gear in early adolescence. The part of the brain that controls impulses and engages in longer-term perspective, the frontal lobes, mature\u00a0later. This may explain why teens in mid-adolescence take more risks than older teens.\r\n\r\nAs the frontal lobes become more developed, two things happen. First, self-control develops as teens are better able to assess cause and effect. Second, more areas of the brain become involved in processing emotions, and teens become better at accurately interpreting others\u2019 emotions.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/5Fa8U6BkhNo\r\n\r\nVideo 5.3.1<\/strong>. Brain Changes during Adolescence <\/em>describes some of the physical changes that occur during adolescence.\r\n
    \r\n

    The Teen Brain: 6 Things to Know from the National Institute of Mental Health<\/h3>\r\n
    Your brain does not keep getting bigger as you get older<\/span><\/div>\r\nFor girls, the brain reaches its largest physical size around 11 years old and for boys, the brain reaches its largest physical size around age 14. Of course, this difference in age does not mean either boys or girls are smarter than one another!\r\n
    \r\n

    But that doesn\u2019t mean your brain is done maturing<\/h4>\r\n<\/div>\r\nFor both boys and girls, although your brain may be as large as it will ever be, your brain doesn\u2019t finish developing and maturing until your mid- to late-20s. The front part of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex, is one of the last brain regions to mature. It is the area responsible for planning, prioritizing, and controlling impulses.\r\n
    \r\n

    The teen brain is ready to learn and adapt<\/h4>\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn a digital world that is constantly changing, the adolescent brain is well prepared to adapt to new technology\u2014and is shaped in return by experience.\r\n
    \r\n

    Many mental disorders appear during adolescence<\/h4>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAll the big changes the brain is experiencing may explain why adolescence is the time when many mental disorders\u2014such as schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders\u2014emerge.\r\n
    \r\n

    The teen brain is resilient<\/h4>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAlthough adolescence is a vulnerable time for the brain and for teenagers in general, most teens go on to become healthy adults. Some changes in the brain during this important phase of development actually may help protect against long-term mental disorders.\r\n
    \r\n

    Teens need more sleep than children and adults<\/h4>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAlthough it may seem like teens are lazy, science shows that melatonin levels (or the \u201csleep hormone\u201d levels) in the blood naturally rise later at night and fall later in the morning than in most children and adults. This may explain why many teens stay up late and struggle with getting up in the morning. Teens should get about 9-10 hours of sleep a night, but most teens don\u2019t get enough sleep. A lack of sleep makes paying attention hard, increases impulsivity, and may also increase irritability and depression.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nhttps:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/16610","rendered":"

    During adolescence, brain cells continue to bloom in the frontal region. Some of the most developmentally significant changes in the brain occur in the\u00a0prefrontal cortex<\/strong>, which is involved in\u00a0decision making\u00a0and cognitive control, as well as other higher cognitive functions.\u00a0During adolescence,\u00a0myelination<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0synaptic pruning<\/strong>\u00a0in the prefrontal cortex increases, improving the efficiency of information processing, and neural connections between the prefrontal cortex and other regions of the brain are strengthened.\u00a0However, this growth takes time, and the growth is uneven.<\/p>\n

    \n

    The Limbic System<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

    The\u00a0limbic system<\/strong>\u00a0develops years ahead of the prefrontal cortex. Development in the limbic system plays an important role in determining rewards and punishments and processing emotional experience and social information. Pubertal hormones target the\u00a0amygdala<\/strong>\u00a0directly, and powerful sensations become compelling (Romeo, 2013).\u00a0Brain scans confirm that cognitive control, revealed by fMRI studies, is not fully developed until adulthood because the prefrontal cortex is limited in connections and engagement (Hartley & Somerville, 2015).\u00a0Recall that this area is responsible for judgment, impulse control, and planning, and it is still maturing into early adulthood (Casey, Tottenham, Liston, & Durston, 2005).<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Figure 5.3.1.<\/strong>\u00a0The limbic system.<\/p>\n

    Additionally, changes in both the levels of the neurotransmitters\u00a0dopamine<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0serotonin<\/strong>\u00a0in the limbic system make adolescents more emotional and more responsive to rewards and stress. Dopamine\u00a0is a neurotransmitter in the brain associated with pleasure and attuning to the environment during decision-making. During adolescence, dopamine levels in the\u00a0limbic system\u00a0increase, and the input of dopamine to the prefrontal cortex increases.\u00a0The increased dopamine activity in adolescence may have implications for adolescent risk-taking and vulnerability to boredom.\u00a0Serotonin is\u00a0involved in the regulation of mood and behavior. It affects the brain in a different way. Known as the \u201ccalming chemical,\u201d serotonin eases tension and stress. Serotonin also puts a brake on the excitement and sometimes recklessness that dopamine can produce. If there is a defect in the serotonin processing in the brain, impulsive or violent behavior can result.<\/p>\n

    \n

    The Prefrontal Cortex<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

    The prefrontal cortex, the part of the frontal lobes lying just behind the forehead, is often referred to as the \u201cCEO of the brain,\u201d the cognitive control center. This brain region is responsible for cognitive analysis, abstract thought, the moderation of \u201ccorrect\u201d behavior in social situations, the capacity to exercise good judgment, self-regulation, and future orientation The prefrontal cortex takes in information from all of the senses and orchestrates thoughts and actions to achieve specific goals (Casey, Jones, & Hare, 2008; Walsh, 2004). Around 11 years of age, this region of the brain begins an extended process of pruning and myelination and is not complete until near the age of 25. This is one of the last regions of the brain to reach maturation. This delay may help to explain why some adolescents act the way they do. The so-called \u201cexecutive functions\u201d of the human prefrontal cortex include:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Focusing attention<\/li>\n
    • Organizing thoughts and problem-solving<\/li>\n
    • Foreseeing and weighing possible consequences of behavior<\/li>\n
    • Considering the future and making predictions<\/li>\n
    • Forming strategies and planning<\/li>\n
    • Ability to balance short-term rewards with long term goals<\/li>\n
    • Shifting\/adjusting behavior when situations change<\/li>\n
    • Impulse control and delaying gratification<\/li>\n
    • Modulation of intense emotions<\/li>\n
    • Inhibiting inappropriate behavior and initiating appropriate behavior<\/li>\n
    • Simultaneously considering multiple streams of information when faced with complex and challenging information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Figure 5.3.2.<\/strong> Brain development continues into the early 20s. The development of the frontal lobe, in particular, is important during this stage.<\/p>\n

      The difference in timing of the development of the limbic system and prefrontal cortex contributes to more risk-taking during adolescence because adolescents are motivated to seek thrills that sometimes come from risky behavior, such as reckless driving, smoking, or drinking, and have not yet developed the cognitive control to resist impulses or focus equally on the potential risks (Steinberg, 2008).\u00a0One of the world\u2019s leading experts on adolescent development, Laurence Steinberg, likens this to engaging a powerful engine before the braking system is in place. The result is that adolescents are more prone to risky behaviors than are children or adults.<\/p>\n

      \n

      Brain Region Integration<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

      MRI studies of the brain show that developmental processes tend to occur in the brain in a back-to-front pattern, explaining why the prefrontal cortex develops last. These studies have also found that teens have less white matter (myelin) in the frontal lobes of their brains when compared to adults, but this amount increases as the teen ages. With more myelin comes the growth of important brain connections, allowing for a better flow of information between brain regions. MRI research has also revealed that during adolescence, white matter increases in the corpus callosum, the bundle of nerve fibers connecting the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This allows for enhanced communication between the hemispheres and enables a full array of analytic and creative strategies to be brought to bear in responding to the complex dilemmas that may arise in a young person\u2019s life (Giedd, 2004).<\/p>\n

      In sum, the adolescent years are a time of intense brain changes. Interestingly, two of the primary brain functions develop at different rates. Brain research indicates that the part of the brain that perceives rewards from risk, the limbic system, kicks into high gear in early adolescence. The part of the brain that controls impulses and engages in longer-term perspective, the frontal lobes, mature\u00a0later. This may explain why teens in mid-adolescence take more risks than older teens.<\/p>\n

      As the frontal lobes become more developed, two things happen. First, self-control develops as teens are better able to assess cause and effect. Second, more areas of the brain become involved in processing emotions, and teens become better at accurately interpreting others\u2019 emotions.<\/p>\n