1.
The Teen Brain –
Or Why Adolescents are not Adults…
Scott Carroll, MD
Founder, Ayni Neuroscience Institute
www.scottcarrollmd,com

2.
The Teen Brain…

3.
Brain Anatomy and Function

4.
Brain Anatomy – Limbic System

5.
Neurons and Axons

6.
Gray Matter vs. White Matter

7.
White Matter Tracks

8.
White Matter Tracks – Frontal View

9.
Piaget – Cognitive Development

10.
Neurons – Early Development

11.
Neurons – Changes with Puberty
• Between 7 and 11
massive increase in
connections occur
• Intense pruning of
connections occur
between 12 and 14
• At 15 pruning slows
and myelination of the
long white matter
tracks begin

12.
Myelinated versus Unmyelinated

13.
Local vs. Optimal Processing

14.
Myelination – Last Phase of Growth
• Most myelination
occurs between 18
and 24 years old
• The frontal lobes are
the last area to
myelinate
• Judgment, emotional
stability and impulse
control become
possible around 25yo
(car insurance)

15.
Psychosocial Development
• Eric Erikson described 8
stages of development
• Identity versus Role
Diffusion - 12 to early 20’s
• Teens shift between
different roles, eventually
settling on clear identity or
search endlessly

16.
Biopsychosocial Development
• Increased peer focus
may do anything to be
different from parents and
accepted by peers
• Drive for independence
flip between being distant
and rejecting versus being
childlike and needy

17.
What Does This All Mean?
• Teens frequently have “black/white” or “all or
nothing” thinking, which misses complexity and
pitfalls of a situation, problem or solution
• Teens can be very rational when calm or thinking
hypothetically, but under stress become confused and
overwhelmed by emotions and impulses
• Under stress their mental processes can regress to
“child-like” or even “preschool” thought patterns,
such as “magical thinking” or even fantasy.

18.
Common Situations with Teens
• They often have (unrealistic) expectations of life or
believe they are (magically) protected from danger
• They may (magically) deny a problem exists and
avoid help, because “I just wanted to pretend …”
• Overwhelmed teens do have a back up plan and go
to a trusted adult and say, “Just tell me what to do!”

19.
Techniques for Stressed Teens
• Slow down and use simple, concrete examples
• Be neutral, non-reactive and respectful of autonomy
• Try playing “Colombo”
• Try visualization or guided imagery

20.
Follow Dr. Scott on:
 Twitter @ScottCarrollMD
 Facebook at Scott Carroll, MD
 And soon at
www.scottcarrollmd.com