Do you know why teenagers behave the way they do!?
Well no one does!
And that includes the teen himself or herself behaving the way he or she is doing!
The answer though may lie in this region of the brain!
Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will is a book by Robert Sapolsky about the question of free will!
The author talks about the development of the brain especially the frontal cortex.
The development of the frontal cortex, specifically the prefrontal cortex (PFC), is a uniquely protracted process in humans that begins in the womb and typically does not finish until the mid-to-late 20s!
This essentially means that your brain is developed when you are born but the development of prefrontal cortex is what is called maturity!
This extended timeline allows for the complex acquisition of executive functions like planning, impulse control, and social reasoning.
Adolescence (Puberty to early 20s): This is a critical “fine-tuning” phase. The brain undergoes synaptic pruning, where unused connections are removed to make the system more efficient. Development follows a back-to-front pattern, meaning the PFC is the very last region to mature!
In the Mid-20s, the process concludes with myelination, the wrapping of nerve fibers in a protective fatty sheath that speeds up electrical signals, enabling the fast, complex thinking required for adult decision-making!
Because the PFC is the “last to arrive,” teenagers often rely more on the amygdala—the brain’s emotional center—to make decisions, which can lead to higher impulsivity and risk-taking!
Factors like chronic stress, trauma, or ADHD can disrupt this delicate maturing process, while activities like mindfulness, learning new skills, and aerobic exercise can strengthen PFC function!
So the next time teen is behaving the way he or she is behaving all you have to do this use your own fully developed pre frontal cortex and ignore the rants which are coming from the Amygdala!
So what was your teen like! My ‘TEEN’ memory was riding a Luna! Riding that slightly faster version of the cycle was like a dream! Another similar vehicle was the TVS! Big ode to Thirukkurungudi Vengaram Sundram Iyengar who was an Indian industrialist and automobile pioneer!
Now try to tolerate the Amygdala influenced teen in your life and sleep! Or ask him or her to sleep!
Shubh ratri!
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