viernes, 3 de enero de 2014

LIMBIC SYSTEM

Taking risk is a characteristic of adolescence and it can be explain by the limbic system which is located inside the brain.

It is responsible for the emotion and reward processing; if you do fun things such as taking risk your brain gives you a rewarding feeling.

The prefrontal is in charge of do not allow us taking risks but in teenagers it is still developing that is the reason for that an adolescent takes more risks than child and adults do.

In conclusion adolescence is the period of human´s life when the brain is very malleable and adaptable. It is the perfect time to learn new things and humans can strengthen the synapses in nerve cells. So you do not have to be worried about moody adolescents it is just part of the opportunity for education and social development.

REFERENCES

Case, BJ (2008) “The adolescent brain” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2475802/

Leijenhorst L; Zanolie K; Van Meel C; Westenberg M; Rombouts S; Crone S. (2009) “What Motivates the Adolescent? Brain Regions Mediating Reward Sensitivity across Adolescence” http://cercor.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/1/61.full

Bava, S; Tapert, S (2010). “Adolescent Brain Development and the Risk for Alcohol

and Other Drug Problems” http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/314/art%253A10.1007%252Fs11065-010-9146-6.pdf?auth66=1387539085_f2cf7c7548ebf1d1d75bcaf32f2118f0&ext=.pdf

Sowell, E; Thompson, P; Holmes, C; Jernigan, T; Toga, A (1999). “In vivo evidence for post-adolescent brain maturation in frontal and striatal regions” http://www.loni.ucla.edu/~esowell/nn1099_859.pdf

Spear, L (2000). “The adolescent brain and age-related behavioral manifestations” http://faculty.weber.edu/eamsel/Classes/Child%203000/Adolescent%20Risk%20taking/Lectures/3-4%20Biological/Spear%20LV%20%20(2000).pdf

Blakemore,S; Choudhury, S (2006) “Development of the adolescent brain: implications for executive function and social cognition” http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01611.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false

1616.full

Chiron,C; Raynaud,C; Zilbovicius, B; Laflamme, L; Masure, M; Dulac, O; Bourguignon, M and Syrota, A (1992) “Changes in Regional Cerebral Blood Flow DuringBrain Maturation in Children and Adolescents” http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/33/5/696.full.pdf

Brain changes in adolescence period

•Brain region that changes is called prefrontal cortex, which is right on the front of the human brain

Brain development in adolescents is linked with brain size changes, and one of the brain regions that changes is called prefrontal cortex, which is right on the front of the human brain. This area is related with decision making, planning, inhibiting inappropriate behavior, interaction with other people and self-awareness. During this period brain changes in grey matter volume for example, at the ages between 12-14 years old it reaches the highest volume later it goes down. It occurs because the synapses between nerve cells at that age are many but then the unnecessary synapses are destroyed.

CLIC HERE TO SEE THE IMAGES

http://www.humansoul.com/prefrontal_cortex.html

Changes in prefrontal cortex

•The changes occurs when people are between 12-14 years old

•grey matter volume reaches the highest volume

•the synapses between nerve cells at that age are many

•then the unnecessary synapses are destroyed.

TAKING RYSKS

Risky choices and behavior changing are characteristics in adolescence period. For instance according to the National Center for Health Statistics, there are over 13,000 adolescent deaths in the United States each year. Approximately 70% of these deaths result from motor vehicle crashes, unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Emotional reactivity also increases and more time is spent with friends than with adults, it sometimes brings conflicts with adolescent’s parents.

jueves, 2 de enero de 2014

Adolescence

Adolescence is a time of considerable development of the brain; it is the period between childhood and adulthood covered by changes in neural architecture such as physical, psychological, and social development.

•Period between childhood and adulthood

These alterations make this period vulnerable and adaptable. In addition there are specific changes for example outlining trajectories of grey and white matter development.

•Changes in neural architecture

•Physical

All those changes at the level of the brain and cognition may map onto behaviors commonly associated with adolescence.

•Psychological

•Social development

It is important to clarify puberty is not a synonym of adolescence; the first one refers to the reach of sexual maturation in contrast, adolescence is the gradual period of transition from childhood to adulthood, and thus is a process of “soft events” rather being deﬁned by a discrete event or events.