Adolescent Biology Test

Adolescence

The stage of life between childhood and adulthood when people grow, change, and learn things physically, socially, and mentally, ages 11-18

What is the main conflict of adolescense?

Identity vs. Role confusion: figuring out who you are, becoming more independent and building skills for adult life

Puberty

Time between the first onrush of hormones and full adult physical development, ages 8-14, rapid physical growth

Hypothalamus

Small region above pituitary gland, control center of the brain that controls hunger, thirst, and sleep by producing many hormones

Pituitary gland

Gland in brain that responds to a signal from the hypothalamus and activates sex hormones

Circadian rhythm

A day-night cycle of biological activity that occurs approximately every 24 hours

Prefrontal cortex

Helps with planning, decision‑making, problem‑solving, and self‑control, still developing in adolescence and is fully developed around 25

Amygdala

Helps with emotional reactions like fear, stress, and anger, develops during adolescence and becomes more active due to hormonal changes

Nucleus Accumbens

Responds to rewards, excitement, and motivation, plays a role in risk taking

Hippocampus

Helps form memories and supports learning, strengthens connections

Cerebellum

Controls coordination and balance, continues to develop and improves coordination

Corpus collosum

Connects left and right sides of the brain, improves connection between brain hemispheres and helps with multitasking

Frontal lobe

Decision making and judgement, impulse control, planning and problem solving

Parietal lobe

Spatial awareness, processes pain and temperature

Temporal lobe

Hearing, memory, and understanding language

Occipital lobe

Vision, color, shape, and motion recognition

Synapse

Gap between two nerve cells where they communicate

Gray matter

Nerve cell bodies that make up the brains computing power

Pruning

Brain's natural process of eliminating unused or weaker connections while strengthening ones that are active and useful; helps brain become more specialized and faster

How does poor diet impact development?

Stunted growth, weakened immune system and bones, impaired brain function, and mental health and behavior problems