Name: The mysterious workings of the adolescent brain
Uploaded: 2012-09-17T15:01:26Z
Duration: 14 min 9 s
Description: Why do teenagers seem so much more impulsive, so much less self-aware than grown-ups? Cognitive neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore compares the prefrontal cortex in adolescents to that of adults, to show us how typically "teenage" behavior is caused by the growing and developing brain.

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Sarah-Jayne Blakemore: The mysterious workings of the adolescent brain

The mysterious workings of the adolescent brain

Why do teenagers seem so much more impulsive, so much less self-aware than grown-ups? Cognitive neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore compares the prefrontal cortex in adolescents to that of adults, to show us how typically "teenage" behavior is caused by the growing and developing brain.

Adolescent brains keep developing well into the twenties and thirties, challenging the old belief that brain growth ends in early childhood. The prefrontal cortex, which handles decision-making and self-control, undergoes dramatic changes and pruning during these years. Studies show teenagers are more impulsive and self-conscious because key brain regions, like the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, mature at different rates. This period of intense brain flexibility offers a powerful window for learning, creativity, and social growth.