The Teenage Brain

I recently attended a couple of events where presenters related teenage behaviour to frontal lobe development. The frontal lobe is identified as the part of the brain that handles executive functions. It has been found to be less developed in teenagers than in adults and the conclusion being drawn is that we cannot expect teenagers to show the maturity and good decisions making of adults because they have not yet developed that capability. It suggests that adults must maintain control over young people.

Another study found that one part of the brain was highly developed in London cab drivers, which supports the belief that the more a part of the brain is used, the more developed it becomes. The question that must be considered then is: “Would we see earlier development of frontal lobes if young people were permitted to make more use of them?”

A short CBC interview with Dr. Robert Epstein, former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today, is recommended for people interested in his views on this subject.

Richard Fransham