The Adolescent BrainThe Adolescent BrainPotential and Potential and VulnerabilitiesVulnerabilities

Ever felt this way?Ever felt this way? UnfocusedUnfocused

ApatheticApathetic

ImpulsiveImpulsive

DisorganizedDisorganized

SleepySleepy

EmotionalEmotional

DistractedDistracted

Stop acting like a Kid!?Stop acting like a Kid!? Behaviour of an adolescent is sometimes less Behaviour of an adolescent is sometimes less

mature than their age…mature than their age… why?why? At this stage the brain is responding to a At this stage the brain is responding to a

massive build up of connections: at age 11-12 massive build up of connections: at age 11-12 the brain develops 30% more neurons and the brain develops 30% more neurons and connections than the adult brain. During connections than the adult brain. During adolescence the brain locks in its more used adolescence the brain locks in its more used networks, and prunes away less used networks networks, and prunes away less used networks to allow a refined and efficient brain at what will to allow a refined and efficient brain at what will become its normal adult size.become its normal adult size.

The brain The brain experiences a experiences a

massive massive growth spurt growth spurt right as you right as you enter high enter high

school. Talk school. Talk about perfect about perfect

timing!!!timing!!!

What does the brain look What does the brain look like?like?

The BrainThe Brain One of the most complex One of the most complex

things in the worldthings in the world

Holds our memoriesHolds our memories

Tells our heart to beat Tells our heart to beat and our muscles to moveand our muscles to move

Allows us to learn and Allows us to learn and speakspeak

Allows us to feel Allows us to feel emotions and have fun.emotions and have fun.

Cerebellum - coordinates Cerebellum - coordinates all of movements and all of movements and muscles to help you walk muscles to help you walk and remain balancedand remain balanced

Pons - Controls our Pons - Controls our breathing and heartbeatbreathing and heartbeat

Brain stem - Relays Brain stem - Relays decisions that the brain decisions that the brain makes to the rest of the makes to the rest of the bodybody

Frontal lobeFrontal lobe – responsible – responsible for thinking, planning, for thinking, planning, judgement, strategizing, judgement, strategizing, resisting impulses.resisting impulses.

Parietal lobeParietal lobe – processing – processing of touch stimuli.of touch stimuli.

Occipital lobeOccipital lobe - sense of - sense of vision.vision.

Temporal lobeTemporal lobe – – processing auditory processing auditory stimuli.stimuli.

How does the brain How does the brain communicate?communicate?

Made of approx 100 Made of approx 100 billion nerve cells billion nerve cells called called neurons.neurons.

They gather and They gather and transmit transmit electrochemical electrochemical signals - like the signals - like the gates and wires in a gates and wires in a computer.computer.

NeuronsNeurons

The The axonaxon is the long is the long cable-like projection of cable-like projection of the cell that carries the the cell that carries the electrochemical electrochemical message. message.

Dendrites or nerve Dendrites or nerve endingsendings are small branch are small branch like projections of the cell like projections of the cell which make connections which make connections to other cells and allow to other cells and allow the neuron to talk with the neuron to talk with other cells.other cells.

Uniqueness of the brain:Uniqueness of the brain:

The brain is the only The brain is the only organ that sculpts organ that sculpts itself through its itself through its experience with the experience with the world.world.

What we do with our What we do with our brains in adolescence brains in adolescence will help determine will help determine what our brains are what our brains are like as an adult.like as an adult.

Neurons that fire together, wire Neurons that fire together, wire togethertogether

Learning is a matter of making connections betweenLearning is a matter of making connections between

neurons, resulting in “neurons, resulting in “neural networksneural networks” ” of neurons.of neurons.

The process of Long Term The process of Long Term PotentiationPotentiation

When information is received a trail along a series of When information is received a trail along a series of neurons is blazed making it easier for subsequent neurons is blazed making it easier for subsequent messages to fire along the same path. The more the messages to fire along the same path. The more the path is re-fired the more permanent the message or new path is re-fired the more permanent the message or new learning becomes.learning becomes.

Each time an activity is repeated the bonds between Each time an activity is repeated the bonds between neurons strengthen and expand, leading to an entire neurons strengthen and expand, leading to an entire network developing which remembers the skill or network developing which remembers the skill or information.information.

When information is received a When information is received a trail along a series of neurons is trail along a series of neurons is blazed making it easier for blazed making it easier for subsequent messages to fire subsequent messages to fire along the same path. The more along the same path. The more the path is re-fired the more the path is re-fired the more permanent the message or new permanent the message or new learning becomes.learning becomes.

Each time an activity is repeated Each time an activity is repeated the bonds between neurons the bonds between neurons strengthen and expand, leading to strengthen and expand, leading to an entire network developing an entire network developing which remembers the skill or which remembers the skill or information.information.

““Use It or Lose It”Use It or Lose It” During adolescence, there During adolescence, there

is a massive is a massive overproduction of neuronsoverproduction of neurons

Neurons which aren’t used Neurons which aren’t used are pruned, and gone are pruned, and gone forever, but those that are forever, but those that are used to form neural used to form neural pathways will last a pathways will last a lifetime lifetime

.. Critical thinking: problem solving and decision Critical thinking: problem solving and decision making strengthen the frontal lobes.making strengthen the frontal lobes.

After the age of 16 relatively few new connections are After the age of 16 relatively few new connections are formed. The brain starts to cut back particularly in formed. The brain starts to cut back particularly in the frontal lobe. If it is not being used it will be cut the frontal lobe. If it is not being used it will be cut back. “Use it or lose it.” back. “Use it or lose it.”

Can be a dramatic shift in the maturation of Can be a dramatic shift in the maturation of adolescents between 16 and 19.adolescents between 16 and 19.

Adult/Adolescent Adult/Adolescent

MRI shows that an MRI shows that an adult brain processes adult brain processes emotional information emotional information differently. differently.

Adults use the frontal Adults use the frontal lobe while the lobe while the teenage brain uses teenage brain uses the more primitive the more primitive amygdala.amygdala.

Amygdala vs. Frontal LobeAmygdala vs. Frontal Lobe

The amygdala is responsible The amygdala is responsible for pleasure, anger, fear.for pleasure, anger, fear.

Teenagers rely more on their Teenagers rely more on their amygdala than adults, who amygdala than adults, who rely more on their frontal rely more on their frontal lobes.lobes.

The amydula triggers anger, The amydula triggers anger, misunderstanding, sexual misunderstanding, sexual interest, aggression, interest, aggression, disorganization, emotional disorganization, emotional language .language .

Reactive vs Reflective:Reactive vs Reflective:

Any information received by the Any information received by the brain travels first to the amygdala.brain travels first to the amygdala.

The amygdala holds emotional The amygdala holds emotional memory - it tells you how you feel memory - it tells you how you feel about things.about things.

In the teenage brain, the amygdala In the teenage brain, the amygdala is developing faster than the frontal is developing faster than the frontal lobes. It is maturing. Poor lobes. It is maturing. Poor modulation of emotions - modulation of emotions - explosions.explosions.

So, teenagers tend to be reactive So, teenagers tend to be reactive not reflective. ( especially if not reflective. ( especially if reflection has not been encouraged reflection has not been encouraged at home or at school - those at home or at school - those connections in the brain have not connections in the brain have not been established or reinforced.)been established or reinforced.)

The Adolescent BrainThe Adolescent BrainBase of brain (amygdala) matures before the front of the brain(frontal lobe), resulting in:

* propensity toward risky, impulsive behaviors

* group setting may promote risk taking

* poor planning and judgment

* activities with high excitement and low effort are preferred

* poor modulation of emotions (“hot” emotions more common than “cold” emotions)

* heightened interest in novel stimuli

Making the World a Better Making the World a Better PlacePlace

As the frontal lobes As the frontal lobes mature, teens are mature, teens are increasingly capable increasingly capable of moral reasoning of moral reasoning and idealism and idealism teens become less teens become less self-absorbed and self-absorbed and often turn idealism often turn idealism into activisminto activism

The Teenage Brain The Teenage Brain

The great irony of the teenage brain is that it is designed The great irony of the teenage brain is that it is designed to learn from experimentation and risk, is not yet fully to learn from experimentation and risk, is not yet fully able to account for the long term consequences of these able to account for the long term consequences of these risks, and is more easily permanently damaged by risks, and is more easily permanently damaged by certain risky behaviors such as drug use than an adult certain risky behaviors such as drug use than an adult brain.brain.

Thus it is important to carefully consider how your Thus it is important to carefully consider how your actions will impact your future.actions will impact your future.

You become good at You become good at what you do, and you what you do, and you

suck at what you don’t. suck at what you don’t.

Think about what you Think about what you want to be good at as want to be good at as

an adult, and make an adult, and make sure you practice the sure you practice the skills required now.skills required now.

The brain and drugsThe brain and drugs

Some drugs lock onto Some drugs lock onto the neuron and act the neuron and act like a pump, so the like a pump, so the neuron releases more neuron releases more neurotransmitter.neurotransmitter.

Other drugs block Other drugs block reabsorption or reabsorption or reuptake and cause reuptake and cause unnatural floods of unnatural floods of neurotransmitter.neurotransmitter.

The brain and drugsThe brain and drugs Limbic system - team wins, praise Limbic system - team wins, praise

etc.etc.

Drug use - creates intense feelings Drug use - creates intense feelings of pleasure - limbic system is of pleasure - limbic system is flooded with dopamineflooded with dopamine

Brain starts changing - neurons Brain starts changing - neurons sense more than enough dopamine sense more than enough dopamine so they reduce dopamineso they reduce dopamine

Receptors, may also make less Receptors, may also make less dopamine - result less dopamine - dopamine - result less dopamine - down regulation.down regulation.

Some neurons may also die.Some neurons may also die.

The brain and drugsThe brain and drugs

Without dose of the drug, Without dose of the drug, dopamine levels in drug dopamine levels in drug abuser’s brain are low - they abuser’s brain are low - they feel flat, lifeless, depressed, feel flat, lifeless, depressed, joyless.joyless.

Now a drug abuser needs drugs Now a drug abuser needs drugs just to bring dopamine levels up just to bring dopamine levels up to normal levels.to normal levels.

Larger amounts of the drug are Larger amounts of the drug are needed to create a dopamine needed to create a dopamine high (tolerance).high (tolerance).

How many times does someone have to How many times does someone have to take a drug to become addicted?take a drug to become addicted?

No one knows how many times a person No one knows how many times a person can use a drug without changing his or her can use a drug without changing his or her brain and becoming addicted. brain and becoming addicted.

SleepSleep

Adolescents require more Adolescents require more sleep than children or adults sleep than children or adults but often are getting less but often are getting less sleep.sleep.

Sleep is crucial for physical Sleep is crucial for physical health - repair and healing, health - repair and healing, growth.growth.

Sleep is highly associated with Sleep is highly associated with mental health and with mental health and with learning and memory learning and memory consolidation.consolidation.

Problems of sleep deprivationProblems of sleep deprivation

Miss out on REM sleep, crucial for Miss out on REM sleep, crucial for learning and memory.learning and memory.

Increased anxiety, depression, poor Increased anxiety, depression, poor judgment.judgment.

Slow reaction time, decreased immunity Slow reaction time, decreased immunity and increased accidents.and increased accidents.

The teenage brain and alcoholThe teenage brain and alcohol Different reaction to alcohol in teenage and adult brain.Different reaction to alcohol in teenage and adult brain.

Less sensitive to effects of intoxication and hangover, Less sensitive to effects of intoxication and hangover, more sensitive to social disinhibition.more sensitive to social disinhibition.

Many brain areas that change in adolescence are Many brain areas that change in adolescence are particularly sensitive to alcohol.particularly sensitive to alcohol.

Excessive drinking - Perform significantly worse on Excessive drinking - Perform significantly worse on memory tests.memory tests.

Have a smaller hippocampus, along with memory Have a smaller hippocampus, along with memory retrieval deficits.retrieval deficits.

FoodFood Protein - used to make neurotransmitters - eat lean protein Protein - used to make neurotransmitters - eat lean protein

- meat, fish, milk, cheese- meat, fish, milk, cheese

Fat - the brain is more than 60% fat - fat plays a crucial role Fat - the brain is more than 60% fat - fat plays a crucial role as messengersas messengers

Omega 3 fatty acids - essential to optimum performance of Omega 3 fatty acids - essential to optimum performance of the brain e.g. fish like salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, the brain e.g. fish like salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, herring, mackerel and anchoviesherring, mackerel and anchovies

Eat foods rich in vitamins and mineralsEat foods rich in vitamins and minerals

Water - brain needs to be fully hydrated so the circuitry Water - brain needs to be fully hydrated so the circuitry works wellworks well

Food and the brainFood and the brain

Carbohydrates - grains, fruits and vegetables are key Carbohydrates - grains, fruits and vegetables are key sourcessources

Carbs are broken down into glucose (sugar) which is the Carbs are broken down into glucose (sugar) which is the brain’s main source of energybrain’s main source of energy

Elements of LearningElements of Learning

New experiences relate and add to your existing New experiences relate and add to your existing knowledge and create new connections within knowledge and create new connections within your neural networks.your neural networks.

Proper nutrition enables your brain to function at Proper nutrition enables your brain to function at an optimal level.an optimal level.

Sleep is required to solidify and organize neural Sleep is required to solidify and organize neural networks, and is thus essential for learning.networks, and is thus essential for learning.

Teen Brain > Under Teen Brain > Under ConstructionConstruction

The adolescent brain is going under significant The adolescent brain is going under significant growth, only comparable to the first 3 years of life growth, only comparable to the first 3 years of life when complex skills like walking and speech are when complex skills like walking and speech are masteredmastered

Short-term memory increases 30% during Short-term memory increases 30% during adolescenceadolescence

The activities teens invest their time and energy in The activities teens invest their time and energy in influence what activities they’ll do as adultsinfluence what activities they’ll do as adults

““Every move you make, Every move you make, every step you take…”every step you take…”

The parietal lobes The parietal lobes control spatial control spatial awareness and the awareness and the fluidity of the body’s fluidity of the body’s movements.movements.

As the parietal lobes As the parietal lobes mature, the ability to mature, the ability to become proficient in become proficient in sport and musical sport and musical instruments is instruments is particularly enhanced.particularly enhanced.

Subtle differences in facial expressions are more easily Subtle differences in facial expressions are more easily misinterpreted by a teenager than by an adult. Reading misinterpreted by a teenager than by an adult. Reading

people’s faces is a skill that improves with age.people’s faces is a skill that improves with age.

The emotional systems of the teenage brain The emotional systems of the teenage brain are much more developed than the logical are much more developed than the logical

systems. However, as teenagers you can still systems. However, as teenagers you can still choose whether your emotions control you or choose whether your emotions control you or

you control your emotions.you control your emotions.

Imagine walking across a field once. Imagine walking across a field once. Return in an hour, a week, a year. Will Return in an hour, a week, a year. Will you see a path? Now imagine walking you see a path? Now imagine walking across a field ten times every day for a across a field ten times every day for a

year. Will you now see your path? year. Will you now see your path? Practice does the same thing in your Practice does the same thing in your brain by creating pathways that are brain by creating pathways that are

easy to find and follow.easy to find and follow.

Once you complete a new learning experience, it is Once you complete a new learning experience, it is important to let what you’ve learned settle. important to let what you’ve learned settle.

Take some time to sit quietly, or to go for a walk.Take some time to sit quietly, or to go for a walk. This is how you save your new file. This is how you save your new file.

Then review what you’ve learned later that night. This tells Then review what you’ve learned later that night. This tells your brain that what you’ve learned is important and should your brain that what you’ve learned is important and should

be stored carefully in an easy to access folder. be stored carefully in an easy to access folder.

Now, sleep on what you’ve learned. Your brain will reinforce Now, sleep on what you’ve learned. Your brain will reinforce and connect what you’ve learned if you enter your deep sleep and connect what you’ve learned if you enter your deep sleep

cycles. Try to get at least eight hours a night. This creates cycles. Try to get at least eight hours a night. This creates the desktop shortcut to what you’ve learned.the desktop shortcut to what you’ve learned.

Temperature affects your Temperature affects your ability to concentrate. Cool ability to concentrate. Cool temperatures are best for temperatures are best for

learning, particularly from text. learning, particularly from text. Put on a sweater, turn the Put on a sweater, turn the

thermostat down a notch, and thermostat down a notch, and you’ll remember more of what you’ll remember more of what

you read.you read.

Reference:Reference:

Available from www.thebrainstore.com,

Questions?Questions?