The Neuroscience of Teen Brains
If you have a teenager, you’ve probably wondered what is going through their brain more than once.
Why do they think so differently from you?
Part of it is simply the maturity that comes with growing up.
Teens must learn, grow, and experience things to think the same way adults do.
But a lot of it has to do with the neuroscience of teen brains.
Your teenager’s brain is different from yours, and those differences can explain a lot about how they process information, the decisions they make, and their behaviors.
With that in mind, let’s dig deeper into the neuroscience of the teenage brain so you can better understand where your teen is coming from.
Brain Development
Brain development varies from person to person, but it’s safe to say that the brain is still growing and forming throughout the teenage years.
Most notably, the prefrontal cortex isn’t fully formed or refined until a person turns 25.
The prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain responsible for things like:
decision-making
problem-solving
ability to see the “bigger picture” of something so you can think through the potential consequences.
If you’ve ever felt like your teen is impulsive or leaps before they look, that might be why.
Rather, teens rely more on the amygdala — the part of the brain responsible for emotions — to make their decisions.
Emotional Regulation
It’s a bit of a stereotype for teenagers to be overly emotional or dramatic.
However, there also might be a kernel of truth there because it can be difficult for teenagers to process and regulate their emotions.
Because the prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed, teens are more likely to act on impulse.
They might also have trouble reading social cues properly, including other people’s emotional cues in everyday conversations.
Risky Behaviors
Do you remember feeling like you were invincible as a teenager?
Again, maturity and learning experiences help with a lot of those ideas.
However, the neuroscience of the brain plays a role in risky behaviors.
We all have reward systems in our brains.
However, it’s an imbalanced system for teens.
They seek out the feeling of a reward or instant gratification rather than relying on the “control” to keep them grounded.
Everyone wants to feel good and do things that trigger that reward system, but teenagers are less likely to consider the consequences.
The good news is that teenagers form connections in the brain faster than adults. This allows them to learn quickly.
So, if they make a mistake or take a risk that they shouldn’t, they can learn from it right away.
Additionally, while it’s not necessarily a “risky” behavior, you might have noticed how difficult it can be to get your teenager to wake up.
Do you find that they sleep in at every given chance?
That has to do with their brain chemistry, too.
Melatonin levels in the teenage brain remain higher later into the night.
This chemical in the brain regulates the body’s sleep schedule.
So, your teen might have a harder time waking up because their mind is still telling them it’s time to sleep.
What Can You Do?
You really don’t have to do anything to change the neuroscience of the teenage brain.
Things will change and shift naturally over time, and you can watch as your teenager matures.
However, you can always set a good example and be a model for things like emotional principles and decision-making.
It might not seem like your teen is watching you, but they are.
If you find that your teenager might be struggling with things or need extra help, especially with emotional regulation, seeking out support is never a bad idea.