Growing Up: The Teenage Brain

Dr. Greg Berns talks about a new study using brain imaging to study teen behavior. It turns out that adolescents who engage in dangerous activities have frontal white matter tracts that are more adult in form than their more conservative peers.

Background

In order to better understand the relationship between high risk-taking and the brain's development, Emory University and Emory School of Medicine neuroscientists used a form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to measure structural changes in white matter in the brain. The study's findings are published in the Aug. 26, 2009 PLoS ONE.

The study enrolled 91adolescents ages 12 through 18 over a three-year period. Levels of engagement in dangerous behaviors were measured by a survey that included questions about the teens' thrill seeking behaviors, reckless behaviors, rebellious behaviors and antisocial behaviors. DTI was used to measure corresponding structural changes in white matter.

"We were surprised to discover that risk-taking was associated with more highly-developed white matter - a more mature brain," says Berns. "We were also surprised to learn that except for slightly higher scores in risk-taking, there was no significant difference in the maturity of the white matter between males and females."

For More Information

Risky Behavior in Adolescents May Signal Mature Brain (Press Release, 8/26/09)
http://whsc.emory.edu/home/news/releases/2009/08/risky-behavior-in-adolescent...

PLoS Journal Article: "Adolescent Engagement in Dangerous Behaviors Is Associated with Increased White Matter Maturing of Frontal Cortex"
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0006773

Greg Berns on "Sound Science"
http://www.whsc.emory.edu/soundscience/2008/berns.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• teens
• teenagers
• adolescents
• adolescence
• teen brain
• neuroscience
• decision-making
• maturity
• gray matter
• white matter
• emory university
• adolescent psychology
• risky behavior

[kaunhumein1]

I absolutley agree with vedio. Believe me many people in countries like India other south Asian ppl think like teenager even when they are older make me cry. Look at bollywood movies its like immature teens watch it.Being an adult is hard & possible. Adult have sex teens can't do that in that way growing cultural way is important also ppl should follow the cultural values respecting it to be called a mature adults.

[katndognco]

MrMephestopheles,

Please rewatch the video. He stated clearly that the "physically" more mature brain was associated with higher risk taking and not the other way around as they had supposed. This SHORT video was NOT intended to give us all the info, merely a taste. Research my man ... that is what they want you to do!

I think it's great that we are exploring and busting wide open the old views and seeing more truth. What will they dispel tomorrow? Kat

[MW2gunnar]

@MrMephestopheles dnt hate

[MrMephestopheles]

how were the teens with more mature brains "more mature?" he didn't support his results with any proof. did they have more synapses or white matter? these vids should be longer and more in depth.

[saucey2427]

Perhaps a more-developed teen brain corresponds with with more self-confidence (which could easily be misplaced in high-risk behavior), and/or a lesser level of development with more caution (perhaps because something deep down is intuitively holding them back, like an evolved survival mechanism for youth).

[Wolvenfire86]

Ugh. I LOVE psychology and I find it incredibly interesting, but if there is one thing that I hate about the field is that they tell you information...and that's all they tell you. They don't tell you what to do with that information, or how you and can use it to better your life, sometimes they don't even tell you why the information is there.

Thank you for uploading the video.