Understanding Teen Brain Development
How adolescent brain development affects behavior and emotional processing.
Your teen may be taller than you and seem mature in some respects, but often he or she is simply unable to think things through at an adult level. Understanding adolescent development can help you find ways to stay connected to your teen and overcome problems together.
Key Facts About Teen Brain Development
Brain Development
The frontal cortex—the part of the brain used to manage emotions, make decisions, reason, and control inhibitions—is restructured during the teenage years, forming new synapses at an incredible rate, while the whole brain does not reach full maturity until about the mid-20's.
Emotional Processing
Teens differ from adults in their ability to read and understand emotions in the faces of others. Adults use the prefrontal cortex to read emotional cues, but teenagers rely on the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for emotional reactions.
Hormonal Changes
Hormones produced during the physical changes of adolescence can further complicate things. These biological differences don't excuse poor behavior but help explain why teens behave impulsively or frustrate parents with their decisions.
Emotional Interpretation
In research, teens often misread facial expressions; when shown pictures of adult faces expressing different emotions, teens most often interpreted them as being angry.