Page 16 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Growing Up: A No-Nonsense Guide to Puberty and Adolescence

14 GR O WING UP

Teen brains SEE ALSO 16–17 ›

Identity
Thinking independently 18–19 ›
Throughout childhood, the brain grows and develops, and by Mood swings 20–21 ›
the time a child is six years old, their brain has reached up to Sleep 76–77 ›
90 per cent of its full adult size. During puberty, however, the
brain experiences its most dramatic transformation, and in
ways that can affect a teen’s thoughts and behaviour. Basal ganglia
Prefrontal cortex The basal ganglia
Changing brains problem solving, self-control, and controls movement
Responsible for rational thinking,
and decision-making.
As children get older, their brains must learn how to cope with thinking ahead, this is the last part
life as adults, and so transformations occur in the anatomy and of the brain to mature.
chemistry of the brain. Areas involved in more basic functions,
such as processing sensory input, mature first, while the areas
responsible for more complex thought, such as planning
ahead, develop later. These changes begin during puberty.
Although the brain is fully grown by a person’s mid-20s,
it continues to develop and change for the rest of their life.

GOOD T O KNO W
Making connections

In early life, millions of connections called synapses Nucleus accumbens
form between brain cells, and these are what allow a The brain’s reward centre, this helps
person to learn. Over time, the brain starts to prune form memories in response to positive
the connections that aren’t used. This gives more or negative experiences. Dopamine
space and “brain power” to those that are needed, levels in the nucleus accumbens change
during adolescence – teens need more
making them more efficient. The teen years are a than adults to achieve the “buzz” from Hypothalamus
This area triggers
critical period for strengthening and pruning pleasure, meaning they’ll take more puberty by releasing
connections, but this process continues throughout chances to achieve this feeling. the hormone GnRH. It
a person’s life. also regulates sleep,
body temperature,
hunger, and thirst.

◁ Early childhood Pituitary gland
Connections form This controls hormone
quickly, allowing a levels in the body.
person to develop
new skills.

Amygdala
Responsible for instinctive behaviour,
aggression, and risk-taking, the amygdala
creates powerful emotions such as fear and
◁ Adolescence anger. Teens use the amygdala to process
Unused connections information more than adults, making
fade away, while them more prone to extreme emotions.
those that are
used frequently
become stronger.

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