It's caused by brain pruning!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
It's caused by brain pruning!
4
Tue, 01-02-2007 - 1:15am

Scientists are gaining new insights into remarkable changes in teenagers' brains that may help explain why the teen years are so hard on young people -- and on their parents.
From ages 11 to 14, a young person loses a substantial fraction of the connections between cells in the part of the brain that enable him or her to think clearly and make good decisions.
It clears out, or "prunes," unneeded wiring to make way for more efficient information-processing in adults.
(Read the full story below)

http://www.startribune.com/789/story/884597.html

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
Tue, 01-02-2007 - 4:56pm
I have also read somewhere that teenagers are nocturnal naturally at this stage of their lives. I have heard of a high school somewhere (I can't remember if its in Canada or the States) that is considering starting school later in the morning and finishing in the early evening. Apparently they were looking for teachers who were willing to do this and had found quite a few. I wish I could remember more about this. It makes a lot of sense to me and I honestly think that it would work well.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
Tue, 01-02-2007 - 7:32pm
Brain pruning is one part of the story. Research on teen brains shows many differences that impact decision making and competence. That is the strongest argument to support the rationale that juveniles should not receive the same punishments as adults. A detailed and simple explanation of teen brain development and its implications can be found at: http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20040508/bob9.asp
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2006
Tue, 01-02-2007 - 9:33pm

A similar article to this was in our local newspaper several months ago. BEWARE of well intentioned grandmothers!!! Some information should not be passed to our children. My MIL read the article to me with my 16yo DD in the kitchen (appearing to ignore us as usual). A few weeks ago I arrived home to find chores not finished and when questioned (by her warden, as I am often called), DD responded "Mom, I can't remember everything, remember Nana said the doctors discovered that my brain is not connecting all the time."

So now we have medical diagnoses for not getting chores done? Boggles the mind how my DD can turn research on teen development in to a pass on responsibility. They are listening only when you wish they were raiding the frig. ROFL

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2007
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 10:22am
I think it's good for them to know they are going through these types of changes. But, you don't just tell them they are "handicapped." (lol)
As I told a friends teen, now that you KNOW your brain is slightly ineffective doesn't mean you have an excuse for things. It means you now know you need to implement ways to COMPENSATE for your brain's temporary inability to focus.
Puts the responsibility right back on their shoulders!