Teenagers' Brains

[gailkate]

I'm supposing you all saw this story, but it may hve been published only in McClatchey papers. I hope I've copied the essential parts, but you can read it all at www.startribune.com/789/story/884597.html

WASHINGTON - Scientists are gaining new insights into remarkable changes in teenagers' brains that may help explain why the teen years are so hard on young people -- and on their parents.
From ages 11 to 14, a young person loses a substantial fraction of the connections between cells in the part of the brain that enable him or her to think clearly and make good decisions. This loss is a vital part of growing up. It clears out, or "prunes," unneeded wiring to make way for more efficient information-processing in adults.
******Synaptic pruning is a good thing. It brings about "an improvement in speed in information-processing and a greater ability to build the long neuronal chains required for complex problem-solving," Campbell said. "There are situations in which less is more."

*********Other crucial changes occur in the teenage brain parallel with pruning. According to Giedd, "a major rearrangement of brain structure and function takes place during early adolescence."

Regions that specialize in language, for example, grow rapidly until about age 13 and then stop. The frontal lobes of the brain, which are responsible for high-level reasoning and decision-making, aren't fully mature until adulthood, around the early 20s, according to Deborah Yurgelun-Todd, a neuroscientist at Harvard's Brain Imaging Center.

"As [teens] mature into early adulthood, they are more able to temper their gut reactions with reasoned responses," Yurgelun-Todd said.

This is why some researchers, such as Abigail Baird, a psychologist at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., contend that teenage criminals shouldn't be subject to the death penalty.

I'm fascinated by the idea that our intuitive sense about adolescent turmoil can now be verified with MRIs and other technology. As I recall being a teenager, I thought I made fully reasoned judgments. But looking at some of the things I did from this vantage point, I can see that I wasn't as mature as I thought I was, even into my early twenties. What about all of you, and those of you with teenage kids?

[booklady]

So you're suggesting that hitchhiking barefoot from downtown Los Angeles, near the bus station, to San Bernadino, at the age of 17 wasn't good decision making?

[liriodendron]

There are not enough hours in the day for me to post all of my observations about teenagers' brains, or lack thereof.

[brutus]

I had the distinct priviledge of helping finish raising a teenager. I married his mother when he was nearing 13. Ohmygosh!!
I sorta attributed the stupidity of young folks to the fact that their bodies were growing up, but their brains were stuck somewhere between infancy and adulthood......emphasis on STUCK!.
I actually pity young folks in this phase of life. It's gotta be so very hard on them.
~B~

[booklady]

To be serious, one of the things I plan to do over vacation is re-read one of my teaching textbooks. I feel like I need a refresher on how kids think and learn. Sometimes I think I expect more of them than they can do, based on their developmental capabilities.

I also have serious suspicions that our culture's emphasis on the visual (TV, music videos, video games, etc.) has affected the development of the brain in our young people. I think it has/will have serious repercussions on how they learn and how we need to teach.

[joew]

booklady said:

…
I also have serious suspicions that our culture's emphasis on the visual (TV, music videos, video games, etc.) has affected the development of the brain in our young people. I think it has/will have serious repercussions on how they learn and how we need to teach.

I suppose that may include both limitations on how you go about teaching and a need to devise ways for your teaching to foster the development which is no longer occurring "naturally."

[maxrubble]

I was a teenager for a few years.

[joew]

maxrubble said:

I was a teenager for a few years.

I think I was too. But if so it was a long time ago, and it's hard to be sure.

[Trusty]

As a teenager I thought I knew everything so I didn't need any brains.

[gailkate]

So you're suggesting that hitchhiking barefoot from downtown Los Angeles, near the bus station, to San Bernadino, at the age of 17 wasn't good decision making?
BL, you must have been a handful.

I, OTOH, was a gem. Honestly, I was every mother's dream. But then I went to college. It's a miracle I survived. That's why the part about the frontal lobes not fully maturing before the early 20s has struck me so forcefully. I have an excuse!

[mike]

admin said:

As a teenager I thought I knew everything so I didn't need any brains.

As a teenager, I was able to avoid using my brain by staying focused on the mission: Borrow my Dad's car, get beer, find chicks, party!

[liriodendron]

gailkate said:

I, OTOH, was a gem. Honestly, I was every mother's dream.

I was a saint, too, gk. I remember very clearly the discussion I had with my mother about this when I was in high school. She was unhappy that my room was somewhat messy. I told her she didn't know how good she had it. Then I enumerated the many other things I could be doing to make her unhappy. That ended that discussion pretty quickly.

[edsfam]

As a teenager, I was able to avoid using my brain by staying focused on the mission: Borrow my Dad's car, get beer, find chicks, party!

WOOOHOO, I finally found my long lost twin!!!

It is like we were separated at birth and had paralllel lives.
Did you also eat to much and sleep to little?

_E_

[mike]

edsfam said:

As a teenager, I was able to avoid using my brain by staying focused on the mission: Borrow my Dad's car, get beer, find chicks, party!

WOOOHOO, I finally found my long lost twin!!!

It is like we were separated at birth and had paralllel lives.
Did you also eat to much and sleep to little?

_E_

Ed, I've always liked your style, now I know why.

Eat to much? - Yes. Sleep to little? - As a teenager, yes. But as a 51 year old, I'm making up for that sleep loss now.

Mike

[slb2]

I read that report several weeks ago. Or was that months ago. I agreed with it then and am surviving the proof. My 13 y.o.'s brain has been severely short-circuited in preparation for the amazing and incredible events that she will bring about in her life.

My Opinion, only, but I think that the worse they are, the bigger their dreams and if they are smart and AMBITIOUS, they'll achieve them.

I'm really smarting from the hits I take from my kids. But better teens than toddlers. While I loved 'em then, they're too hard on the body! Now they're just hard on the brain and heart, which I can handle a lot better.

[booklady]

I nominate slb2 for Mother of the Year.

[rmn]

Terrific thread, Gailkate.

My fourteen-year-old and I had our last real conversation about a year ago. Since that time, James has morphed in a way I never would have imagined. The little guy has never gotten a B in school. He's been in an enrichment program since second grade, and the Alabama School of Math and Sciences wants to enroll him down in Mobile. All this said, I still scratch my head over his silence.

Your initial post was huge. I say this with absolute sincerity. Thanks, GK.

R

[gailkate]

You're most welcome, R, and you might want to talk more with slb2, who is also enduring a mostly silent teenager. It must be hard keeping your own emotional balance.

I hope this won't seem flippant - we actually have a book called "Surviving Your Adolescent Dog." If even pups are a mass of contradictions and stubbornness and spitefulness and hurt feelings, just think what the human tumult is like. Maybe Purgatory is the years spent raising teenagers.

May Christmas truly bring Comfort and Joy.

[rmn]

Purgatory for both parent and teen.

Thanks.

Merry Christmas right back at you, GK.

[slb2]

rmn, have you seen the movie Little Miss Sunshine? My daughter is similar to that and our family is similarly dysfunctional! lol Similar to the non-speaking teenaged son, that is.

Thanks for remembering about her, gailkate. I have hopes for the New Year, though.

[rmn]

I haven't seen the movie, Slb2, but I'll make it a point to look it up. I have to tell you that GK's initial posting was critical. I've sent this to a few docs I work with (doctorK, I suspect, has poked her good head this way...indeed, she may have some things to say.) In any case, I want a few smart people to substantiate the validity/veracity of the study. In the interim, I feel good about James. GK's post served as a visit to the shrink, for me, that is.

We should consider hooking our two up They'll probably end up talking to one another nonstop.

Merry Christmas, Slb2.

R

[slb2]

rmn, my 13 y.o. loves to talk. She's famous for talking and singing. She just won't talk to her parents or brothers. Zip. Nada. Not one word. Frankly, I'm not sure how much longer we'll hold it all together without imploding.

[booklady]

I watched Little Miss Sunshine the other night with my daughter. Loved it!

I pretty much felt that all three of my kids went up to their rooms when they hit 13 and didn't come down for a couple of years. My 20-y.o. still reverts to 13-ish behavior occasionally, like yesterday as dinner was served.

[rmn]

Hang in there, GK.

I know what you mean. James won't talk up a storm with his friends but he does talk. It wracks my nerves when I sit and think about it.

Yesterday was fine. I bought James a Shuffle iPOD so he had to ask a few questions concerning a necessary computer download. Hmmmm. Quite the method to my madness, don't you think?

[juliastar]

Family trips are also a great way to deal with some of that teen angst. The head to head power play doesn't work so well because part of what they are doing is trying to cut the umbilical cord and become their own persons. They are quite comfortable in their little worlds but take them on a trip to someplace new and different. They aren't so comfortable and the things their parents do know about what to do and how to get around looks kind of reassuring and cool. I had to do itineraries though, like a travel agent. We did a couple loosey goosey get up and decide what we feel like trips and they were daily melt downs and sulking sessions. So I surveyed everyone about what they wanted to get out of the trip, compiled a schedule that built it all in, printed it and passed it out. What are we doing tomorrow? I don't know, what does the schedule say? Much better time by all. It's the sort of thing that isn't my nature but I realized that children can only handle so much choice and range. They want/need their adults to be rocks. When they hit their twenties, they can figure out that you are their friend and a human being, too.

I would say make sure you are talking plenty to your son, rmn, even if it feels like it is a monologue. A lot goes on inside of people with little outward sign of impact or import. And I don't see anything wrong with the question, "Are you doing okay? You are so quiet sometimes that I worry about you." He may not open up with an inner most feelings sort of talk, you may only get a nod or a grunt, but the expression of your concern may be enough to smooth some of those inner most feelings if they are there.

[rmn]

Good words, Star. You could join BK, slb2, and GK in starting up a clinic for stressed out single dads.

I'm serious.

I hope 2007 brings vast fortune to you, good lady.

R

[doctork]

Indeed, I've had my share of experiences with silent teens. Lots going on in those brains, they just may not say much to their parents. But it's all being absorbed, have no doubt.

I did read a synopsis of the study of teen brains, but haven't seen the whole thing. This one made the lay press news, but there's been a lot of academic debate on the subject previously. Now the evidence starts to roll in. The topic is often discussed with teen-agers suspected/found guilty of capital crimes. I am personally of the opinion that most teens really are not capable of adult-type decisionmaking in their commission of these crimes, because of the issues of immature brain development. [NB: I am opposed to the death penalty anyway, regardless of age].

Who really knows? "As the islands of knowledge expand, so do the shorelines of ignorance."

[doctork]

One of my favorite adventures with silent teens or more accurately, pre-teens.

One year I took my daughters, then 10 and 12, to Paris for two weeks on Spring Break (back in my Road Warrior days, when I had zillions of free airline miles). I spoke French, they didn't.

All of a sudden, there was intense interest in what mom would say next! Also, there was NO bad behavior for the whole two weeks. I simply told them that if they did not quit fighting/arguing/making faces/whatever, I would walk away and leave them to their own American devices, alone in the midst of French-speakers.

I chose those ages for the trip because the girls were old enough to remember and appreciate France, but not old enough to be embarrassed to be seen with their mother. My friends who were parents of teens told me I was pushing it with the 12 year old, but it would work out OK in France, because she didn't know anybody there!

As you may have read in the other thread, we all survived, and the girls graduated college this year. They talk plenty now (mostly to ask for money and/or advice).

[hartlikeawheel]

This is a good conversation. Since I am ahead of some of you I will presume to give advice.

I had very smart and so very difficult children to raise. It's their father's fault.

What I learned was to take each alone in the car for a ride. You can't let them know you are doing that or they won't go. Make up an excuse. Or take them out to lunch one at a time. They will talk to you.

Or not.

And don't try to talk to them. Make 'em curious.

Another good thing that worked for me was to take them individually to a film and then just wait until the ride home.

Try not to criticise or be a parent and just listen. Now that's an easy thing to do. Yup.

I worked with a social worker once who told me that on the MN Multiphasic Inventory most teens respond with schizophenic results. Must be an error in the test?

But they do become totally crazed and one must learn to live with crazed human childs.

It's okay. You asked for that when you decided, or not, to birth babies. Your fault. Laffin'.

Just wait until they are thirty and love and stand by them and it will get better. Just takes a little patience. Hee.

Don't give them money. They will squander it. Give them groceries and warm clothing. Hug them and let them have their own space even when they are screwing up.

Well. And the catch phrase is to love and stand by them. They will get it eventually. This I know.

[hartlikeawheel]

I saw a rather ordinary film the other day sitting around with the flu. It was called"Rebound" and it made me laugh out loud. One of those feelgood movies about a coach who calls together a bunch of misfit kids and turns them into basketball heroes.

Maybe it could be a jumpstarter for conversations with teens going through that uncomfortable phase.