Summary
Scientists, educators, physicians, and even some parents thought they had a handle on the teen brain. It was assumed that the adolescent brain was fully equipped with all the machinery available to adults, and capable of functioning like an adult. Experts assumed that the adolescent years provided a period of “seasoning”—lots of trial, error, and yet more trials—in order to improve decision-making skills. However, as any teen can attest, it’s just not that simple. Thanks to new brain imaging technology, scientists have discovered that the brain is going through a virtual metamorphosis during adolescence. There is a burst of new growth, circuits are being molded, and patterns of brain activity during decision-making are far from adult-like. The Teen Brain is a revealing look at the substantial new discoveries associated with the development of the adolescent brain and their consequences on teen behavior.