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Read articles, including Science News stories written for ages 9-14, on the
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- Better chow yields more milk: A more nutritious form of corn for dairy cows boosts farm profits, teen investigator finds
- Fuzzy future: Kids may suffer impaired vision from spending too little time outdoors, studies suggest
- Building with moon rocks: Working on the moon with lunar soil and grit could prove easier, more efficient and less costly than using earthly materials
FOR KIDS: The teenage brain
Adolescence triggers brain — and behavioral — changes that few kids or adults recognize
Web edition: October 23, 2012
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The brain releases dopamine when something makes us feel good — like pulling off an exciting trick. This “feel good” response helps explain why teens sometimes take big real risks.
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Teenagers must act on an endless parade of choices. Some choices, including smoking, come with serious consequences. As a result, adolescents often find themselves trapped between their impulsive tendencies (Just try it!) and their newfound ability to make well-informed and logical choices (Wait, maybe that’s not such a good idea!).
So what makes the teenager’s brain so complex? What drives adolescents — more than any other age group — to sometimes make rash or questionable decisions? By peering into the brains of teenagers, scientists who study brain development have begun uncovering answers.
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