Psychology of Risky Behaviour in Adolescence

What part of the brain do adolescents use to process information

Adolescents tend to use an alternative part of the brain, the AMYGDALA (emotions and aggression) rather than the prefrontal cortex (reasoning) to process information

What does biological stress response in children cause

Biologic stress response to adversity in childhood directly correlated to severity of multiple illness and life outcomes - dose response - more ACES the more likely a person is to suffer in later life.

What is adolescence characterised by

ES - Emotional Spark SE - Social Engagement NS -Novelty Seeking CE - Creative Explorations;

Where is most of the activity seen in adults vs children

Most of the activity in the adult brain is in the frontal lobe Most of the activity in the teen brain is focused in the centre

Where does most myelination and pruning occur

Myelination & Pruning are most pronounced in the Frontal Lobe /Prefrontal cortex

What happens to the brain during adolescent development

One of the most rapid phases of adolescent development • Biological maturity precedes psychosocial maturity • Age is often more appropriate for assessing biological changes

Define PACE

Playful Accepting Curious and Empathic approach keeps the social engagement system online = more information, more connection = better formulation/diagnosis and treatment

How does behaviour change in adolescents

Risk taking Sensation seeking Peer influence

What is synaptic pruning

Synaptic "pruning" (unnecessary neurons) and myelination (process whereby white matter develops) of the prefrontal cortex improves the efficiency of information processing

Why is the teenage brain 'under construction'

Teenage brain is under construction, a period of growth of the neuron bodies or gray matter in the prefrontal cortex peaking at ages 11 in girls and 12 in boys

What is amygdala responsible for

The amygdala is responsible for emotional and impulsive responses During stressful momements, adolescents will use their amygdala

Why are teens more likely to engage in risky behaviour

Your prefrontal cortex which thinks about things logically, weighs the pros and cons, and restrains you matures later. This means teens can be more prone to riskier and impulsive behaviours, and less likely to consider consequences than an adult would be

What are the implications of risk taking for health + behaviour

• Adolescent development drives the changes in disease burden between childhood and adulthood - Sexual and reproductive health problems - Mental illness - Injuries

What are the main differences in the brain between children + adults

• Areas of the frontal lobe showed the largest difference between young adults and teens • Children and adolescents from ages 12 to 16 have less myelination in the frontal lobes of the brain

What are the three manifestations for dopamine driven reward

• Impulsivity - familiar becomes boring - excitement and stimulation needed - sense of vitality • Susceptibility to Addiction - dopamine is associated with addictive behaviours and substances • Hyperrationality - Bias towards PROs in a situation

What happens to the limbic system as you develop

• In the limbic system, changes in levels of certain neurotransmitters, like dopamine, affect emotional experiences, stress and reward sensitivity

What does the increased chance of risk taking in teens mean

• Increased vulnerability to substance use • Biased action towards towards immediate gain rather than long term gain • Stimulates risk-taking behaviours

What changes occur during adolescence

• Social transitions • Physical/ Hormone Changes • Psychological and social changes • Neurodevelopmental changes

What happens to white + grey matter in the teenage brain

• Volume of white matter increases; significant growth of myelin sheath - Leads to enhanced conductivity & connectivity in the brain • Volume of grey matter decreases; synaptic pruning - Elimination of less-active synapses