the adolescent brain
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The Adolescent Brain. Janet Matthews and Sarah Ramowski. Adolescent Evolution. ages 11 – 24 Amygdala driven Dopamine sensitive Filter deficient Risk prone Sensation-seeking Peer presence. Learning Ladder. Novice to expert. Unconscious; competent. Conscious; competent. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Adolescent Brain
Janet Matthews and Sarah Ramowski
Adolescent EvolutionAdolescent Evolution
ages 11 – 24ages 11 – 24 Amygdala drivenAmygdala driven Dopamine sensitiveDopamine sensitive Filter deficientFilter deficient Risk proneRisk prone Sensation-seekingSensation-seeking
– Peer presencePeer presence
Learning LadderLearning Ladder
Novice to expertNovice to expert
Unconscious; incompetent
Conscious; incompetent
Conscious; competent
Unconscious; competent
Functional EvolutionFunctional Evolution
Amphibian ~ MammalAmphibian ~ Mammal Autopsy ~ MRIAutopsy ~ MRI Primitive ~ CerebralPrimitive ~ Cerebral MyelinationMyelination
Emotional evolutionEmotional evolution
AffectAffect Shame ~ GuiltShame ~ Guilt Eustress ~ distressEustress ~ distress Self talk emergesSelf talk emerges Puberty ~ maturityPuberty ~ maturity
Adolescent Prevention MessagesAdolescent Prevention Messages
RepetitionRepetition Fiber tract sculptingFiber tract sculpting Myelinates tractsMyelinates tracts
PruningPruning Lifestyle impactLifestyle impact
Increase voluntary controlIncrease voluntary control Brain > MindBrain > Mind
The Big PictureThe Big Picture
Adolescence is incredibly exciting time in Adolescence is incredibly exciting time in brain development…therefore, also crucial brain development…therefore, also crucial that we nurture adolescent brainsthat we nurture adolescent brains
Change our thinking about adolescents and Change our thinking about adolescents and risk takingrisk taking
How Do We Know What We How Do We Know What We Know?Know?
MRI pictures show MRI pictures show brain structures & brain structures & sites of activitysites of activity
New: DTI (diffusion New: DTI (diffusion tenor imaging) tenor imaging) shows color images shows color images of neural fibers that of neural fibers that transmit signalstransmit signals
The PhysicalThe Physical
““AA” sites in AA” sites in brain – brain – “Appearance “Appearance Attractiveness” Attractiveness” – 5x higher in – 5x higher in youth than youth than adultsadults
The EmotionalThe Emotional
Compared to adult brain, adolescent brain Compared to adult brain, adolescent brain perceives emotions at 2-4x the intensityperceives emotions at 2-4x the intensity
Adolescents have 3 basic needs in coping Adolescents have 3 basic needs in coping with emotional intensity: with emotional intensity:
1) Listen; 2) Validate; 3) Support good choices1) Listen; 2) Validate; 3) Support good choices Adults often use 3 “D’s”: Adults often use 3 “D’s”:
1) 1) DenyDeny 2) 2) DiminishDiminish 3) 3) DisrespectDisrespect
Emotional SafetyEmotional Safety
Setting the rules for emotional safety is Setting the rules for emotional safety is crucialcrucial for promoting safety and healthy for promoting safety and healthy positive development among youth. positive development among youth.
Compliments given to adolescents should Compliments given to adolescents should be very careful – based on behavioral be very careful – based on behavioral observationsobservations
Problem SolvingProblem Solving
THP helps adults cope in crisis (calming THP helps adults cope in crisis (calming effect), but in youth it causes effect), but in youth it causes anxiety/apprehensionanxiety/apprehension
““You need to calm down” is not effective in You need to calm down” is not effective in the moment when THP is activatedthe moment when THP is activated
Avg 13.6 yrs when youth shift to willingness Avg 13.6 yrs when youth shift to willingness to engage adults in open conflict – this is to engage adults in open conflict – this is NORMAL developmentNORMAL development
Risk TakingRisk Taking
Risk Risk Reward in Adolescent Brains via Reward in Adolescent Brains via Nucleus AccumbensNucleus Accumbens
Teens need safe risk-taking opportunitiesTeens need safe risk-taking opportunities
Preventing risk-taking: here and now of Preventing risk-taking: here and now of consequences, not futureconsequences, not future
Risk Taking & the InternetRisk Taking & the Internet
Perspective takingPerspective taking Future thoughtFuture thought Online disinhibition Online disinhibition
effecteffect Virtual Mystery Tour:Virtual Mystery Tour:
healthysexedu.blogspot.comhealthysexedu.blogspot.com
Substance UseSubstance Use
AvoidAvoid BoredomBoredom 10 – 14 is key window to avoid for alcohol 10 – 14 is key window to avoid for alcohol
useuse Brain is beyond plasticity window, and this is Brain is beyond plasticity window, and this is
the time where cell mapping & migration the time where cell mapping & migration process is the highestprocess is the highest
Substance UseSubstance Use
Pathways activated by alcohol in < 22 y.o. Pathways activated by alcohol in < 22 y.o. brains can remain excited for 48 hrs after brains can remain excited for 48 hrs after drinking, brain cells self-destructdrinking, brain cells self-destruct
Having a male older sibling, especially for Having a male older sibling, especially for boys, is a risk factor for trying drugs/alcohol boys, is a risk factor for trying drugs/alcohol (often the “first route” into drugs/alc). (often the “first route” into drugs/alc).
Effects of marijuana on brain are Effects of marijuana on brain are increasingly unknown (depending on increasingly unknown (depending on delivery system)delivery system)
Gender DifferencesGender Differences
Female brains have average 29% more Female brains have average 29% more verbal capacity (relative to brain size overall) verbal capacity (relative to brain size overall) vs. male brainsvs. male brains
Are girls “more emotional” than boys? No.Are girls “more emotional” than boys? No. Positive self-esteem between ages 9-10 and Positive self-esteem between ages 9-10 and
13-14: for boys it drops 12-20%, for girls it 13-14: for boys it drops 12-20%, for girls it drops 20-38%drops 20-38%
Take Away MessagesTake Away Messages
Emotions, reasoning, and decision-making Emotions, reasoning, and decision-making are all under construction during are all under construction during adolescenceadolescence
Time of vulnerability AND capabilityTime of vulnerability AND capability Adults can help by de-personalizing teenage Adults can help by de-personalizing teenage
behaviorbehavior Adolescents need positive adult framing & Adolescents need positive adult framing &
support for making good choicessupport for making good choices
ResourcesResources
1.1. The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress. The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress. The The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. www.teenpregnancy.org/resources/reading/pdf/BRAIN.pdfwww.teenpregnancy.org/resources/reading/pdf/BRAIN.pdf
2.2. Brizendine, Luann. Brizendine, Luann. The Female BrainThe Female Brain..
3.3. The Dana Foundation. www.dana.org (new The Dana Foundation. www.dana.org (new relevant research in brain development)relevant research in brain development)
4.4. The Brain Connection. The Brain Connection. www.brainconnection.comwww.brainconnection.com