Thus, the anatomical and physiological maturation processes that take place in adolescence are much more dynamic than originally thought. Many synapses are eliminated ( 8) while, at the same time, there is an increase in white matter ( 9, 10), and there are changes in neurotransmitter systems as well ( 11, e1, e2). Large-scale longitudinal studies have shown that a basic reorganization of the brain occurs during adolescence ( 7). ) In the meantime, however, new scientific discoveries have compelled a revision of this assumption. Until just a few years ago, there was a general assumption in developmental psychology and neuroscience that major changes in the architecture and functioning of the brain were limited to the prenatal period and the first five or six years of life. Special attention was paid to human neuro-imaging studies. We studied these issues with a selective search for relevant publications in German library catalogues, in the PubMed database using the search terms “adolescence/puberty,” “brain/neural,” and “development.” Cited publications were also considered. This review concerns new neurobiological insights into typical adolescent behavior and their implications for the best ways to deal with adolescents. Girls, on the other hand, are more likely to engage in health-endangering behavior in the area of nutrition (e.g., dieting, eating disorders). Boys are more prone to accidents, and they take more risks when driving. They also consume illegal drugs more commonly than girls. Boys drink alcohol more frequently and in larger amounts. Boys and girls also drink different alcoholic beverages: Boys tend to drink beer and hard liquor, while girls tend to drink wine, sparkling wine, etc. In recent years, for example, the prevalence of smoking among boys and girls has become nearly equal, although some qualitative differences remain: Boys smoke more cigarettes, and they also more commonly smoke “harder” tobacco products such as cigars, black tobacco, and unfiltered cigarettes. The high mortality is attributable to drunk driving, driving without a seatbelt, carrying weapons, substance abuse, and unprotected sexual intercourse ( 4).Īs can be seen in the Table, boys and girls engage in risky behavior at similar frequencies. The most common causes of death are motor vehicle accidents, other accidents, violence, and self-injury ( 5). In Germany, for example, 62% of all deaths among persons aged 15 to 20 are due to traumatic injuries. This is reflected in statistics showing that risky behavior in adolescence is linked with an elevated risk to health ( 4). Many adolescents and young adults are prone to take risks and enjoy having extreme emotions ( 2, 3). The major developmental tasks of adolescence include the establishment and nurturing of intimate relationships and the development of identity, future perspectives, independence, self-confidence, self-control, and social skills ( 1). It is a time not only of physical maturation, but also of mental and emotional development into an independent, responsible adult. While this makes intellectual and emotional development possible, it also opens the door to potentially harmful influences.Īdolescence is the phase of life between late childhood and adulthood. This may account for typical adolescent behavior patterns, including risk-taking.Ĭonclusion: The high plasticity of the adolescent brain permits environmental influences to exert particularly strong effects on cortical circuitry. Subcortical brain areas, especially the limbic system and the reward system, develop earlier, so that there is an imbalance during adolescence between the more mature subcortical areas and less mature prefrontal areas. In postnatal brain development, the maximum density of gray matter is reached first in the primary sensorimotor cortex, and the prefrontal cortex matures last. Results: New findings in developmental psychology and neuroscience reveal that a fundamental reorganization of the brain takes place in adolescence. Method: We selectively review pertinent articles retrieved from the PubMed database about the structural and functional development of the brain in adolescence. Neuroscientific explanations have been proposed for typical adolescent behavior with these explanations in mind, one can derive appropriate ways of dealing with adolescents. Typically, adolescents seek diversion, new experiences, and strong emotions, sometimes putting their health at serious risk. Background: Adolescence is the phase of life between late childhood and adulthood.