Lesson 3 - Stereotypes, Labels, Sample Size, and Side Effects
The Teenage Brain
Let's get a little bit more personal now and learn about how the teenage brain functions and changes that occur during the teenage years.Â
Adolescence is a time of growth and maturation in the brain. It is also a time when new behaviours begin to emerge; some of which become a great frustration and worry to parents. Changes that present themselves result from a change in motivation, attention and risk taking. Many cognitive abilities including the control of attention are controlled by the pre-frontal cortex. This part of the brain undergoes massive changes during adolescence and is one of the last areas of the brain to mature completely. Teenagers are known for reckless, risk taking and impulsive behaviour. While some of this risk taking behaviour is considered normal and adaptive, it also puts the adolescence at a great risk for personal injury. The dangerous scenario occurs when teens act spontaneously and do not consider the possible consequences of their actions.
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Case Study Tragedy struck at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary a couple of years ago when eight teens climbed a fence and attempted to slide down the bobsled track on a toboggan. The toboggan slammed into a gate half way down the track killing two of the teens and sending several others to hospital with serious injuries. This is an example of an activity that sounded like fun where the teens did not fully comprehend and consider the consequences of their actions. Eg. How fast will we go? How will we stop at the bottom? What if someone gets hurt? What if we get caught? Could I get badly injured or die? Please read the article below on what the experts say are some of the reasons for teens participating in risk taking behaviour.
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teenmentalhealth.org
Please watch the video below on the teenage brain which provides some interesting information about the growth and development of the teenage brain. The teenage brain is driven by the dopamine response. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in reward-motivated behaviour. Most types of reward increase the level of dopamine in the brain. In this video you will see how the development of the teenage brain in search of the dopamine response, can influence behaviour. When the outcome of a behaviour is good, the dopamine goes up and when the outcome is bad, the dopamine goes down. Because we like the dopamine rush we get from an activity, the brain remembers, and we do it again.Â
Video: Insight into the Teenage Brain, TED Talks (Length of video: 9:42 minutes). Note: See questions below that you will be asked to respond to in a journal entry after you have watched the video.Â
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After watching the video "Insight into the Teenage Brain", you are required to make a journal entry.Â
1. At what age does the brain develop until?
2. Does the brain develop from front to back OR back to front?
3. What is the role played by the prefrontal cortex?
4. What is the role played by the striatum?
5. How does the dopamine response influence behaviour?
6. Based on the research that was presented in this video using brain scans, what did you learn about how the sensitivity of the brain changes from childhood to teenager and then to adulthood? (3 marks)
7. When does the prefrontal cortex start to play a more active role in regulating behaviour?
8. What were the three "Take-Home" points noted? (3 marks)
9. Explain why the sensitivity of the teenage brain to rewards and emotions might lead teens to make poor choices. Provide an example.
b) Explain how this sensitivity could have a positive impact? Provide an example.
Total Marks = 14.