News Neuroscience

Adolescent brains open to change

Scientists assess teenagers’ sensitivity to outside influences on neural wiring

brain image

BRAIN POWER  The teen brain may be particularly malleable, new studies suggest. 

CLIPAREA l Custom media/Shutterstock

By Laura Sanders

- More than 2 years ago

Under the carefully styled hair of a teenager, the brain is roiling with change. Some nerve cells are killed off, others are pruned back and still others are locked into place, a restyling that moves the brain closer to its adult form.