Shannon Odell: How friendship affects your brain

How friendship affects your brain

If it seems like friendships formed in adolescence are particularly special, that's because they are. Childhood, adolescent, and adult friendships all manifest differently in part because the brain works in different ways at those stages of life. During adolescence, there are changes in the way you value, understand, and connect to friends. Shannon Odell explores the neuroscience of friendship. [Directed by Biljana Labović, narrated by Alexandra Panzer and Deidre Donovan, music by Jarrett Farkas and Weston Fonger].

Adolescent friendships are uniquely powerful, rooted in dramatic brain changes that heighten the value and intensity of peer connections. Teens often feel as if they are perfectly in sync, laughing harder and sharing more deeply than at any other life stage. Scientific studies show that areas like the ventral striatum become extra active, making time with friends especially rewarding. The growing ability to understand others’ emotions and perspectives, known as Theory of Mind, allows teenage bonds to become more intimate and meaningful.