TEENAGE BEHAVIOR: IS IT THE BRAIN?

Teenagers and adults often don’t see eye to eye, and new brain research is now shedding light on some of the reasons why so much confl ict exists. Although adolescence is often characterized by increased independence and a desire for knowledge and exploration, it also is a time when the brain matures at different rates, and the resulting instability can result in high-risk behaviors, vulnerability to substance abuse, and mental distress. Recent imaging studies in humans show that brain development and connectivity are not complete until the late teens
or early twenties. It is becoming clear that the status of brain chemical systems and connectivity between brain regions make teenagers different from both the young child and the fully mature adult. In other words, as if you did not already know, there really is a big difference between the teenage and adult brains!
Brain Structure and Aggression
One area of teen brain functioning that has piqued the interests of neurscientists is aggression. Adolescent aggressive behavior can be divided into two types: proactive and reactive. Proactive aggressors plan how they’re going to hurt and bully others. Reactive aggression, however, is not premeditated; it occurs in response to an upsetting trigger from the environment. Research psychiatrist Frank Guido fi nds that aggressive teen behavior may be linked to the amygdala, an area of the brain that processes information regarding threats and fear. Aggressive behavior may also be associated with a lessening of activity in the frontal lobe, a brain region linked to decisionmaking and impulse control. Guido’s research indicates that reactively aggressive adolescents—most commonly boys—frequently misinterpret their surroundings, feel threatened, and act inappropriately aggressive. They tend to strike back when being teased, blame others when getting into a fight, and overreact to accidents.