Understanding the Evolving Adolescent Brain: Insights from Neuroscience

Abstract

Institutional Affiliation 7th April 2021 [Name] Synopsis In TED Talk, “The Mysterious Workings of the [Author],” Sarah-Jayne evaluates the prefrontal cortex in adolescents as compared to adults to demonstrate how distinctive teenage actions are based on the development of the brain. Adolescence is the stage of life that begins with hormonal, biological and physical transformation of puberty and closing stages when a person achieves an established, self-determining responsibility in society (Blakemore, 2012). Prefrontal cortex is one of the prominent parts of brain that experiences transformation during adolescence (Blakemore, 2012). It is characterized by cognitive roles such as decision-making, scheduling activities, restraining unsuitable actions. MRI studies prove that prefrontal cortex goes through serious transformation during adolescence. Take for instance the volume of gray matter (part of central nervous system) from the ages between 4 to 22 years that increases throughout childhood (Blakemore, 2012). It shows that boy’s experiences puberty later on as compared to girls and for the period of adolescence, prefrontal cortex experiences a major decrease in the gray matter volume. This process is essential since it enables removal of unnecessary synapses according to the environment an individual is in for the purpose of sustaining important synapses and becoming stronger. Functional MRI is used to monitor changes in the adolescent brain across ages. A suitable illustration is social brain that demonstrates habitual and natural social emotional reactions to certain situations such as losing a game (Blakemore, 2012). Fundamental emotions and mental state can help other people understand our actions, gestures and facial expressions without asking. The medial prefrontal cortex is the area that is more functional when adolescents make social decisions and think about others as compared to adults (Blakemore, 2012). This is because adolescents and adults have distinctive mental method in creating social decisions based on their behaviour. Today, the behaviour of adolescents is understood according to the transformation that happens in their brains. Adolescents are known as risk takers especially in front of their friends...