Parents, teachers and others who deal closely with teenagers know how difficult the teenage years can be, as teenagers always do wild and even dangerous things. Now, brain-imaging technology allows scientists to study the physical development of the brain in more detail to learn why teenagers act differently from adults.
Recently, scientists discovered that though our brains are almost at their full size by the age of six, they are far from fully developed. Only during teenage years do our brains truly "grow up". During this time, they go through great changes. These changes were once thought to be finished by age 12. Now, scientists have found our brains continue to change till age 25. The result is the unpredictable actions seen in teenagers.
The studies show that teenagers prefer to take more risks and act in more dangerous ways. One way the brain does this is by changing the way teenagers think of risk and reward. When teenagers think about rewards, their brains produce more chemicals that create pleasure than an adult brain would. Researchers believe this makes the rewards seem more important than the risks, and makes teenagers feel more excited about the new experiences than adults do.
Research also found it makes social connections seem especially rewarding. Generally speaking, teenagers have a stronger need to meet new people. This is because teenagers begin to realize the people of the same age may one day control the world they live in. Because it's still developing, a teenage brain can change to deal with new situations. So, it connects social rewards with even more pleasure. In this way, the brain encourages teenagers to have a wide circle of friends, which is believed to make them more successful in life.
Unluckily, this hunt for greater rewards can sometimes lead teenagers to make bad decisions. However, it also means teenagers are less afraid to try new things. The teenage brains are what help teenagers prepare for adult life.
