Difficult teenager? - it's all in the amygdala.
February 26th 2008 20:53
Signature Tune
From the Telegraph.co. UK
Teen anger 'caused by brain shape'
Adolescent anger and aggression can be traced to differences in brain structure, scientists say.
Variations in the sizes of parts of youths’ brains were found to be linked to different levels of aggression, belligerence and anxiety during discussions with their parents.
Researchers filmed 137 adolescents aged 11 to 14 having discussions with their mothers and fathers, involving provocative topics such as “lying” and “talking back to parents”.
They were rated using standard scales used by psychologists for traits including anger, contempt, belligerence, anxiety, or being happy or caring. Each adolescent participant then had his or her brain structure mapped using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.
Scientists then measured the sizes of different brain regions.
They found that a larger than average amygdale – an almond-shaped brain structure known to be involved in emotions and memory – was associated with longer duration of aggression in both boys and girls.
Boys with a smaller left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) than right ACC, exhibited more anxious behaviour and “whined” more.
The findings were reported yesterday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Lead author Dr Nicholas Allen, from the University of Melbourne, said “Increased baseline amygdala activity has been reported in aggressive adult populations, and structural amygdala abnormalities have been reported in adult psychopathologies marked by impulsivity and aggressive behaviour, such as borderline personality disorder.”
Dr Allen added that was growing evidence that major changes to the structure of the brain took place in early adolescence which could significantly affect mental, social and emotional development.
“These neural changes are believed to underlie a shift from behaviour that is driven by affective impulses to more regulated behaviour that is guided by consideration of future personal and social consequences.
“Such changes mark adolescence as a critical period during which to examine the neural contributions to affective behaviour, particularly emotion regulation.”
So for all of you out there who think teenagers are capable of making their own decisions, and remember teenagers last until they are 20, THINK AGAIN and act more like a responsible parent than your child's best friend. He/she have best friends, what they need are PARENTS
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Comment by Holly Go Lightly
Movie Mage
Thanks for making me feel better about my teenage years.
Comment by Techno
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Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
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*Dies laughing*
I like being independent. I don't believe in regrets so there we go.
~Dianna
Comment by Miswanderlust
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Mis
Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Danceswithwords
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With some teenagers I think they should check for the existence of a brain first, then MRI them. I curious about that procedure - MRI scans normally involve one lying incredibly still as the machine circles around you. I am in fits to think they get a kid to explode and then put them in one of these and get them to - well stay still.
Personally and from a wealth of experience in this matter I blame the adults. 99% of the time the reason teen's are the way they are is because of their environment. I especially love those TV programs on kids who behave incredibly badly and watch the parents flounder with language, clear guidelines, and discipline... which NO doesn't mean beating or hitting kids in anyway.
There was study about big brains versus smaller brains recently which sited (and proved) that smaller brained people were actually more intelligent (IQ testing and so on) than big brained people and the reason is the smaller brain is more efficient than a bigger one. the problem is of course with all of this wonderful science is its totally useless without MRI type devices, so the next time you're catching a train or a bus... stop to have a look at the person next to you and say... Had an MRI lately?
Dances
Comment by katyzzz
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I thoroughly enjoyed your comments and Einstein's brain was not big, tends to support your findings.
Points well made, but do spare the poor parents, they know not what they do, but teenagers are generally the 'pits'.
Sorry about that. Certainly their brains are not MATURE, with or without the benefits of the MRI.
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
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~Dianna
Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
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I gave her chances and she gave me chances. We've realized we both lose horribly and we cannot meet each others' expectations. I've grown to hate her and she's sick of me.
So I have three weeks to find a new place to live.
It's too late to sort out our differences.