The Adolescent Brain:

Still GROWING!Gretchen Miller

EDFS 377July 15, 2009

Brain Development Facts:

Age 0-2: brain TRIPLES in size and weight, huge buildup of neural connections

The Terrible Twos: massive pruning of neural connections and brain reorganization from 18 – 24 months

Brain DevelopmentThe (Sometimes) Terrible Teens:

Neural connection growth spurt + massive pruning and reorganization = sometimes erratic behavior, mood

swings, disorganization, lack of control of emotions

Not fully developed until age 25!

Your Brain

Prefrontal Cortex: Executive Functioning

• Reasoning, Decision making, Problem Solving, Creative Thinking, Goal Setting, Prioritizing, Judgment, Planning, Organization, Self-Control, Impulse Inhibition, Emotional Control, Understanding Cause and Effect

Basic Neuron Anatomy

• 100,000,000,000 neurons

• 10,000 connections per neuron

• 1,000,000,000,000,000 a thousand trillion

connections!

Neural Connections

• Every fact we know, every idea we hold, every action we take IS a network of neurons in our brain.

Adolescent Brain Change #1Neural connection growth spurt during

puberty, peaking at age 11 (F) and age 12 (M)

#1 Increasing Neural ConnectionsLearning is PHYSICALNew neural connections are being created

and strengthened everyday at school and at home

Adolescent Brain Change #2Massive pruning of extraneous neural

connections, similar to the Terrible Twos

Another PHYSICAL change in the learner’s brain

Adolescent Brain Change #3Major spurts in myelination in the temporal,

parietal, and frontal lobes.

Well ok, what is myelination?

MYELIN is a fatty substance (glial cells) that coats the axon and speeds up the electrical impulses between neurons, up to 100X faster.

Myelination appears to occur in waves from birth to age 25 and beyond.

Brain scans show more myelin in the frontal lobes of adults than in teens.

Adolescent Change #4The cerebellum continues to grow and

develop

CerebellumControls movement and physical coordination

Also controls mental coordination: the ability to coordinate many different intellectual processes

The cerebellum is still growing and developing in adolescent brains!

EmotionBe aware of the power of emotion in the

adolescent brain

The frontal cortex (reasoning, decision making, judgment, self-control, impulse inhibition, and emotional control) is still developing

Suggestions for Parents and Teachers

Ensure 8 – 10 hours of sleep each night to support a growing and developing brain!

Suggestions for Parents and Teachers

Provide and schedule TV-free down time to allow for rest, reflection, and consolidation of learning

Suggestions for Parents and Teachers

Daily aerobic exercise enhances neuron growth and improves memory and attention span

Encourage your child to join a sports team every season, join the local gym together, and support family exercise activities (hiking, biking, jogging)

Suggestions for Parents and Teachers

Do what you can to reduce stress at home

Chronic stress can affect memory, cognition, and social skills.

Suggestions for Parents and Teachers

What you eat affects your brain! Model and encourage healthy eating with

your teen!Nutrition affects memory, cognition, and

attention span

Suggestions for Parents and Teachers

Support music, arts, and P.E. programs at school and at home to engage the visual and auditory cortexes.

Works Cited

Jensen, E. (2008). A Fresh Look at Brain-Based Education. Phi Delta Kappan, Vol. 89, No.6.

Medina, J. (2009). Brain Rules. Pear Press. http://www.brainrules.net/

Ratey, J. (2008). Spark. Little, Brown. http://www.johnratey.com/newsite/index.html

Sousa, D. (2006). How the Brain Learns. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Willis, J. (2008). Building a Bridge From Neuroscience to The Classroom. Phi Delta Kappan, February 2008. 424 – 427.

Willis, J. (n.d.) Reach And Discover (R.A.D.). Retrieved May 19, 2009, from http://www.radteach.com/

Wolfe, P. (n.d.) Mind Matters. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from www.patwolfe.com

Zull, J., (2002). The Art of Changing the Brain. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.