How Teen Brains Differ From Adult Brains

Let's face it; age dictates many things in one's life. You must be a certain age and weight before moving to a different car seat. Each grade level requires you to be a certain age. A license isn't obtainable until you're 16 years old. You can't vote until you're 18. The legal drinking age is 21. You spent your entire life chasing a certain number.

Your parents may have even told you, more times than you wanted to hear, that you had to wait to do certain things until you were older. So, what's the big deal with age? Let's learn more about how teen brains differ from adult brains.

The Brain's Growth

The brain is still growing during the teenage years. The brain reaches its biggest size around 11-14 years old. Although it's done growing physically, it actually doesn't finish developing until someone reaches their late 20s. Adults' brains are fully developed and connected to the rest of the brain. This means that on top of the changes a teenager is going through physically, their brain may be causing some mental changes as well.

The Prefrontal Cortex vs. The Amygdala

A teenager's changing and evolving brain can cause them to act differently as well. This is especially true when it comes to making decisions or problem-solving. Adults tend to think with the part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is known as the rational part of the brain.

Meanwhile, teenagers think with the amygdala, which is the emotional part of the brain. The connection between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala in a teen's brain is still developing, which can lead to a more emotional approach to decisions compared to approaching something with good judgment and short as well as long-term consequences.

The Developmental Years

The teenage brain has the ability to change and adapt to its environment. This is the perfect time for a teen to get involved in other activities to learn and mature from. Now is the time to get involved in exercising, challenging classes, or other outlets like music, art, or sports.

The developmental years add both positives and negatives, as with anything in life. During this time, a teenage brain may be more vulnerable to stress compared to an adult brain. They also may actually need more sleep compared to adults and even children. Although a teenage brain is vulnerable, it is resilient. The changes taking place in the brain are very important for the overall development and maturity of the brain, as well as helping to protect and prevent mental disorders in the future.

Their Actions

Due to teenagers being more guided by their emotions compared to thinking things through, they are more likely to:

●      Act on their impulses.

●      Be involved in physical or verbal fights.

●      Misinterpret emotions.

●      Misread social cues.

●      Put themselves in dangerous situations.

Compared to adults, teenagers are less likely to:

●      Think things through before taking action.

●      Stop and think while they're acting on something.

●      Consider the consequences of their actions.

●      Change their behaviors.

Next Steps

A teenage brain is very similar to an adult brain; it just isn't as developed or mature yet. Being more aware of the difference between an adult and teenage brain can help parents, as well as people working with teenagers, like teachers and coaches, help better understand how the brain may be affecting some of their behaviors.

If you're interested in learning more to help you better anticipate and better manage behaviors, reach out to today to set up a consultation for teen counseling. We will help to support you while you're supporting your loved ones.

Click here for more information on counseling for teens.