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"An intimate acquaintance with some of the structural features of the human brain is thus seen to be not only necessary to the physician, but also to the psychologist, the educationalist, and the social worker" - R.J.A. Berry, 1928
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!
