“The human brain… is one of the most complicated material objects in the known universe. The number of possible active pathways of such a structure far exceeds the number of elementary particles in the known universe” - G.M. Edleman (Nobel Prize, 1972)
The adolescent brain is best described as a work in progress. Our brains are about 90-95% of their maximum size by the time we are 6 years old, but they are definitely not finished changing! Massive changes continue to occur over the next 15-20 years, as connections within the brain are strengthened and refined. Adolescent brain development can be divided into three processes: proliferation, pruning and myelination.
Many adolescent behaviors are a direct result of brain changes, and are completely normal! These include changes in sleep patterns, changes in attention/motivation, and changes in risk-taking behaviours. The brain matures in a back-to-front pattern, and the parts that are LAST to mature are those associated with planning, organization, impulse control, judgment and reasoning!
