What Part Of The Brain Changes The Most During The Teen Years

The Teen Brain: vii Things to Know

The Teen Brain: 7 Things to Know

Download PDF
Download ePub
Guild a costless hardcopy
En español

Did you know that big and important changes are happening in the brain during boyhood? Hither are seven things to know about the teen brain:

i. The brain reaches its biggest size in early adolescence.

For girls, the brain reaches its biggest size around 11 years old. For boys, the encephalon reaches its biggest size around age fourteen. Merely this divergence does not mean either boys or girls are smarter than one some other!

ii. The brain continues to mature even after it is washed growing.

Though the brain may be done growing in size, information technology does non terminate developing and maturing until the mid- to late 20s. The front part of the encephalon, called the prefrontal cortex, is one of the last brain regions to mature. This expanse is responsible for skills like planning, prioritizing, and controlling impulses. Considering these skills are nonetheless developing, teens are more likely to engage in risky behaviors without considering the potential results of their decisions.

3. The teen brain is fix to learn and conform.

The teen encephalon has lots of plasticity, which means it tin alter, conform, and reply to its environs. Challenging academics or mental activities, exercise, and creative activities such every bit fine art can help the brain mature and learn.

four. Many mental disorders may begin to appear during adolescence.

Ongoing changes in the brain, along with concrete, emotional, and social changes, can brand teens vulnerable to mental health problems. All the large changes the brain is experiencing may explicate why adolescence is a fourth dimension when many mental disorders—such every bit schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders—can emerge.

5. Teen brains may exist more than vulnerable to stress.

Because the teen encephalon is even so developing, teens may answer to stress differently than adults, which could atomic number 82 to stress-related mental disorders such every bit anxiety and depression. Mindfulness, which is a psychological process of actively paying attention to the nowadays moment, may assistance teens cope with and reduce stress. More data on managing stress is available in the National Institute of Mental Health'south fact sheet, I'one thousand So Stressed Out.

vi. Teens need more slumber than children and adults.

Enquiry shows that melatonin (the "sleep hormone") levels in the blood are naturally higher later at night and drop later in the morning time in teens than in most children and adults. This difference may explain why many teens stay up late and struggle with getting upwards in the morning time. Teens should get nearly ix to 10 hours of slumber a night, only almost teens do not go plenty sleep. A lack of sleep tin can make it difficult to pay attention, may increase impulsivity, and may increment the risk for irritability or low.

7. The teen encephalon is resilient.

Although adolescence is a vulnerable time for the encephalon and for teenagers in general, virtually teens continue to become healthy adults. Some changes in the brain during this important phase of development actually may help protect confronting long-term mental disorders.

Finding Help

If you or someone yous know has a mental affliction, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns near their mental wellness, there are ways to become help.

Communicating well with your doctor or other health care provider can improve your care and aid you both brand good choices about your health. Find tips to help prepare and become the most out of your visit.

If you are in firsthand distress or are thinking about pain yourself, phone call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-gratuitous at 1‑800‑273‑TALK (8255). Yous likewise tin can text the Crisis Text Line (How-do-you-do to 741741) or utilize the Lifeline Chat on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

U.South. Section of Health and Man Services
National Institutes of Health
NIH Publication No. 20-MH-8078
Revised 2020