23/06/2015
What We Will Cover
Adolescence is a transition
The Adolescent
Brain
How the brain changes
The effects this can have:

Physically

Emotionally

on Risk taking
Suggestions for support
Setting the Scene
Terms
Puberty
Teenager
Typically developing
brain
Population data not
individual
‘How come?’ not
‘How to?’
Summarised and
simplified
Adolescent
Transition from Child to Adult
Changing Length Of Adolescence
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Risk and Protective Factors
Phases of Adolescence
)
The Human Brain
Adolescent Brain Changes
Cell Body
Axon
Nucleus
Synapse
Dendrites
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Brain in Transition
The Balancing Act
PFC
PFC
Limbic
PFC
Limbic
Limbic
PFC
= Consequence thinking
Limbic System = Reward Centre and other Limbic areas
Reference:
Reference: Lenroot RK & Giedd JN. Brain Development in children and adolescents: insights from
anatomical magnetic resonance imaging. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2006; 30:718-29.
Somerville LH, Jones RM & Casey BJ. (2010). A time of change: Behavioral and
neural correlates of adolescent sensitivity to appetitive and aversive environmental
cues. Brain and Cognition, 72, 124 – 133.
The Brain in Renovation…
Thinking Adolescent
Foundation for Life
Foundational Brain
Development
Newborn
370
grams
1 year
955
grams
3 years
1180
grams
Adult
1400
grams
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Genes AND Experience
It’s all about Relationships
Nature and Nurture Work Together
Stress
Understanding Stress
Positive
Tolerable
Toxic
The Stress Reaction
Response for Survival
cortex turned down
mouth becomes dry
perspiration
dilates blood vessels
in large muscles
References:
pupils dilate
heart rate up
stops secretions in
stomach
constricts rest of
blood vessels
Braun (2011), Lambert (2003), Ploog (2003).
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Stress in Action
Protective Factors
Supportive Adult Relationships
Parenting Style
Body Changes
Self awareness increases
Preparing body for adult world
Hormonal Changes
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Sleep
Adolescent Sleep Patterns
Change in sleep cycle
More autonomy
around sleep time
Still need 8.5 hours to
9.25 hours per night
21% NZ teenagers do
not get enough sleep
Sleep Deprivation
moodiness
School
performance
down
alcohol
effects
accidents
Social and Emotional
Changes
memory problems
multitasking
emotional
The Emotional Rollercoaster
Social Negotiation is Complex
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Recognition of Emotions
Using the Emotional Brain
Adolescent
Reference:
Adult
Yurgelun-Todd, D. (2002) Frontline interview “Inside the Teen Brain” on
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/interviews/todd.html
Perspective Taking
Risk Taking
Taking Risks
The Balancing Act
PFC
PFC
Limbic
PFC
Limbic
Limbic
PFC
= Consequence thinking
Limbic System = Reward Centre and other Limbic areas
Reference:
Somerville LH, Jones RM & Casey BJ. (2010). A time of change: Behavioral and
neural correlates of adolescent sensitivity to appetitive and aversive environmental
cues. Brain and Cognition, 72, 124 – 133.
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Playing Chicken
Peer Influence
3.0
2.5
Crashes
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Alone
Adolescents
Reference:
Gardner M & Steinberg L. Peer Influence on Risk Taking, Risk Preference, and
Risky Decision Making in Adolescence and Adulthood: An Experimental Study.
Developmental Psychology 2005, Vol. 41, No. 4, 625–635
Reference:
With Friends
Young Adults
Adults
Data from Steinberg L. Risk-taking in adolescence: New perspectives from brain
and behavioral science. Current Directions in Psychological Science 2007;16:55–
59. Adapted from Gardner M. and Steinberg L. 2005
The Brain in Renovation…
Alcohol & Other Drugs
The Role of Adults
In Summary
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23/06/2015
Use It or Lose It
Media
“If a teen is doing music or sports or
academics, those are the cells and
connections that will be hardwired. If
they're lying on the couch or playing video
games or MTV, those are the cells and
connections that are going to survive.”
Dr Jay Giedd
Reference:
FRONTLINE
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/work/adolescent.html
Early Years are the Foundation
Phases of Adolescence
Thinking Adolescent
The Balancing Act
PFC
PFC
Limbic
PFC
Limbic
Limbic
PFC
= Consequence thinking
Limbic System = Reward Centre and other Limbic areas
Reference:
Somerville LH, Jones RM & Casey BJ. (2010). A time of change: Behavioral and
neural correlates of adolescent sensitivity to appetitive and aversive environmental
cues. Brain and Cognition, 72, 124 – 133.
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The Role of Adults
www.brainwave.org.nz
Listen to me
– I am your
prefrontal
cortex...for
now.
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