Brain Development
Brain Basics
Brain Overview
Ingredients
Glial Cells
These are like helper cells
Neurons
Cell body and decision-maker where all the action is happening.
Axons, Dendrites, Synapse
Dendrites hang off the cell body; they are responsible for bringing information in. Specifically, chemicals known as neurotransmitters.
An axon is a long tubular messenger system. This is a chemical electric procress. When axons are activated, it kinda looks like the wave at a ball park. The axon signal then releases more neurotransmitters.
Synaptic cleft: The gap between the axon terminal button and the neuron.
Neurotransmitters
Brain Basics, cont.
Synaptogenesis and Synaptic Processes
Synaptogenesis: The process of making these synaptic connections.
When you learn something, you are pulling neurons closer together in a very physical sense, so they can communicate. That connection is strengthened every time they talk to one another.
If a specific connection isn’t being used, then it’s going to start fading away. This process is known as pruning.
Myelination
Myelin Sheath: The cover around an axon, these are used to help insulate the axons.
Neuroplasticity
Brain change
The brain is very malleable and changeable over time, particularly when you are young.
Two types of plasticity:
Structural Plasticity
Every time I’m doing something or learning something new, my brain is changing its physical structure to accommodate that.
Little kids can learn language better because they have way more structural plasticity.
Functional Plasticity
Damage to the brain, such as a stroke or brain injury, and losing the function in that area where the damage is.
The brain can take over damaged parts.
The damaged section doesn’t grow back, but the other side of your brain can start to perform that function.
Brain Structures
4 Lobes
2 Hemispheres with four lobes in both
Frontal Lobe
Reasoning, logical decision-making, thinking about consequences.
Parietal Lobe
Sensation and perception
Occipital Lobe
Vision
Temporal Lobe
Hearing and learning
Lateralization
The fact that each hemisphere does different things.
Two hemispheres so that our brain and the different sides of our body can be coordinated
Left Hemisphere
Left = Language
Language
Computation
Logical Reasoning
Right Hemisphere
More holistic processing
Spatial Reasoning
Face Recognition
Music
Corpus Callosum
The tissue through which the left and right hemispheres communicate.
This is connective tissue between the two halves
They have cut this tissue in half to see if it helps with seizures, and it does
When this is cut, the brain doesn’t communicate, so some interesting things happen. If someone with a cut corpus callosum sees something in their left vision, they won’t be able to communicate that they see anything.
Brain Changes
Changes in Adolescence
Limbic System
Animalistic Brain
Thinks about emotions, hunger, and sex drive
In adolescents, your limbic system is fully engaged
Intense emotions, biggest mood fluxes
Tells other glands to produce hormones
This section is fully developed
Prefrontal Cortex
Thinking, processing, rational brain
Not done growing
Focus, focus of attention, organizing thoughts, problem solving, potential consequences of behavior, strategizing, goal orientation, impulse control
This part of your brain sees that you’re having a lot of emotions but is telling you to control them
The part of your brain that tells you not to punch people when you’re angry
They say that you’re not completely done myelinating until about age 25
Brain Region Integration
How is the information flowing through your brain, how are we connecting with each other, and how is it myelinated
You myelinate from back to front
Issues in Adolescence
Sleep
They are in need of more sleep than they are getting
Teens and babies need the most sleep
Risk Taking
Time with riskiest behavior
Sensation-Seeking/ Risk Taking (Increased)
Higher levels of dopamine than later in your life
Delayed Executive Functioning
This system isn’t fully up and running. The voice is still there, telling you this might not be a good idea, but it’s not as loud.
Impact of Experience
Time of making some decisions that aren’t great and then learning from it
Helps us become adults!
Getting in trouble helps us become adults
Mitigating Risk
Helicopter parenting
It’s basically that parents are trying to protect their kids from having these uncomfortable, upsetting experiences
This can create problems
Not being able to do anything with Mom could lead to a sense of dependence and not knowing what I’m capable of
Free-range parenting
The idea of letting them go and seeing what happens
Gen X parents were like here’s a key I’m working til 5 figure it out
Can lead to children not feeling supported
Behavioral and Psychological Adjustment
Driving
Accidents
Most common in young teens. Due to less impulse control and less experience.
Change in onset of driving
People are waiting longer to get their license
Agression/ Anti-Social Behaviors
Violence
Highest rates of violent offense are in late teens and early 20s
This is due to the lack of myelination in your frontal lobe
The amygdala is at an all-time high
Substance Use
Not as high rates as they used to be
Highest drinking is in college
Teen drinking is coming down
Risk Factors?
Abuse
Pain from past trauma
Depression and Anxiety
Peers
The brain is at a critical developmental period
Ex: Using cannabis as an adult is not quite a big deal. Safer than alcohol. If I’m a teenager, it can cause a lot of neurological disruption.
Socioeconomic status
Living in poverty, higher rate of substance abuse
Prevention?
Education
Helping with psychology
Counseling, having someone to talk to, working through how to regulate emotions, coping skills, etc.
Anxiety, Depression, and Self-Harm
Uptick at this age
42% of high school students are having pretty negative emotions. Higher for females.
Much higher in LGBTQ+ individuals
Trying to figure out where this anxiety and depression is coming from
Academic pressure
Lack of self-efficacy
Social media/ screen time
Being on a phone without interacting with other people