The teenage years have always been a big adventure — a time of seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm. There has also been a tendency to sometimes label the teenager as impulsive and reckless — risk-takers who lack the decision-making abilities of adults.

This characterization is misleading as recent neuroscience research is flipping this narrative on its head.

In an article by Zara Abrams, “What neuroscience tells us about the teenage brain” (2022), it turns out that the teenage brain is not just a bundle of chaos heading towards risky behaviour, but a powerhouse of neural potential and adaptability.

Here are some recent findings …

One of the most fascinating aspects of the teenage brain is its heightened sensitivity to rewards. This trait is driven by increased neural activity in an area known as the ventral striatum, a part of the brain that is involved in decision making, motor control, emotion, habit formation, and reward. This area has long been linked to risky behaviors like substance use, however, in the right environment this same sensitivity can lead to positive outcomes, such as increased motivation and social engagement. Not surprisingly, when teens are exposed to positive environments, their resulting actions tend to point in directions that can lead to some pretty amazing things.

There is building, brain-based evidence to support this.

Here are three brief descriptions of some amazing youth and the impacts they made in their teens:

1. Autumn Peltier
   • At just 13 years of age, Canadian Indigenous rights activist Autumn Peltier addressed the United Nations General Assembly, urging them to recognize the importance of water protection. In 2019 and at the young age of 15, Autumn Peltier was named the chief water commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation, a group representing 40 First Nations across Ontario.
2. Malala Yousafzai
   • As a child, Malala Yousafzai went to her dad’s school in Pakistan to be one of the few girls to get an education. One day as she was on her way to school, she was shot by a gunman simply because she was a student. Surviving this horrific event, Malala has become a passionate, global advocate for women’s educational rights.
3. Greta Thunberg
   • In 2019, this Swedish teen was named ‘Person of the Year’ by Time Magazine in recognition of her work as a climate change activist: “We can’t just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow.”

Today, researchers are using sophisticated methods to study the teenage brain including conducting longitudinal studies. Instead of just comparing different age groups, researchers are following the same individuals over time. This approach is providing an even clearer picture of how the teenage brain develops and changes during adolescence.

The teenage brain is more malleable than we had thought.

This malleability or neuroplasticity means that teens are particularly adept at learning and adapting to new situations — all while their brains are undergoing a significant re-wiring — where their neural network is reducing grey matter (the cell bodies and connections between nerves) while increasing white matter (the insulated neural highways that speed information within the brain and throughout the body).

Teens are living their complex lives while their brains are making neural changes affecting their thinking, reasoning and actions. And … these changes are not uniform. This variability makes adolescence a unique and critical period, where it can lead to both positive and negative teen behavior.

This is where parents and educators play a pivotal role.

We cannot easily change certain environmental conditions like socio-economic status or even where we live, but we CAN influence an environmental condition that is likely even more important — our relationships with teens.

And because of this, parents and educators play a crucial role in shaping the teenage brain. Positive reinforcement and supportive relationships can steer teens towards healthier behaviors. We can’t always control teen life stressors, but we can model how we react to them and also how we support teens. Understanding this developing science behind teenager brain development can only help influential adults such as parents and educators provide the best possible guidance for youth.

Despite these advances in research, there’s still much to learn about the teenage brain — an incredible, morphing marvel of nature.

So, the next time you see a teenager remember – their brain is not just a work in progress, but a potential masterpiece in the making in which we can all play a role.