Growth and Development during Adolescence and Youth

 Neurons and their axons are called the gray matter, which decreases during adolescence.

Myelin, also called white matter, insulates the neurons and their axons, and builds stronger and faster connections between brain centers

Para ventricular central brain selectively stimulated by pubertal hormones

The brain plasticity - the human creativity – booms during adolescence and fades away after the age of 25 yrs. 

Gray matter helps adolescent’s cognitive functions better and allows for specific skills  and age-related decrement starting from age 12 years 

Myelin insulation of axons in prefrontal areas is the last to be completed and is not finished until  age 25 years 

Adolescent brain reward-seeking regions of the brain develop before the regions responsible for planning and emotional control

The stimulation of Para ventricular areas (dopamine mediated) typically begin  around age 10 to 12 years and increases over the next several years. 


But the prefrontal cortex which keeps a lid on impulsive actions doesn’t approach full development until a decade later leaving an imbalance during the interim years. 


Puberty is starting too early, boosting hormones when the prefrontal cortex even less mature 

Developmental imbalances between the limbic region and prefrontal cortex in relation of adolescent and youth and developmental stage



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The limbic system’s rapid development is  responsible for 
Pleasure seeking, reward processing, 
Emotional response, and sleep regulation
The  pre-frontal cortex develops slowly responsible for
Decision-making, organization, 
Impulse control, planning for the future
Biological maturity precedes psychosocial maturity 
Real potential to ameliorate negative developments during early years of life

Risk-taking, Exploring and Problem behaviour…



Dopamine – The Good and the Bad







Stages and Domains of Adolescent Development 


Stages of adolescent development:
In all countries adolescents go through the same stages of development for both males and females but the age ranges may vary








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