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Mason Brenhouse

HMS Press Release - Deciphering the teenage brain - 0 views

  • “Teens are in a discovery mode,” says Frances Jensen, MD, an HMS professor of neurology. “They’re experiencing new things, and their brains are developing accordingly. There’s simply a lot going on in their brains.”
  • The teenage brain matures from back to front. The posterior regions, especially those above the spinal column, are largely responsible for motor control. Their earlier maturation helps account for the quick acquisition of locomotion and other movement skills by young people. Maturation of many sensory regions also occurs early, enabling a growing person to learn from the surrounding world. The maturing of the forward regions of the brain, particularly the frontal lobe, doesn’t occur until late adolescence or early adulthood; some researchers say the region’s maturation may not be complete until age 30.
  • The ease of learning that most teens enjoy, however, can carry a steep cost: addiction. “The brain builds itself as it responds to experiences,” Jensen says. “With teens who experiment with drugs, this can result in addiction. It’s the same pattern as learning—we want more, more, more.”
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  • The challenge for parents, educators, clinicians and others who deal with teenagers is to determine whether their exasperating behavior is just the stuff of growing up or whether their moodiness and lack of judgment are indicative of a larger, perhaps pathological, problem. Many mental disorders begin to manifest during adolescence, including schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol abuse. “The key,” says Jensen, “is to be aware of what’s going on with your kids. Teens today are exposed to more stress than ever before, including drugs, alcohol, and violence. We all have to be mindful.”
  •  
    This article was written by Scott Edwards of Harvard Medical School on the intricacies of the teen brain and what exactly is going on pertaining to the brain during adolescence. It states that throughout adolescence teens go through many drastic changes. Consequently, this development of the brain may not even be completely finished until the age of 30 in certain cases. It essentially gives the how and why to the volatile behavior that most teenagers acquire. 
mira ahmad

Why teens are prone to drug addiction, behavioural disorders... - 0 views

  • why adolescents are more vulnerable to drug addiction, behavioural disorders, and other psychological ills.
  • adolescent brains react to rewards with far greater excitement than adult brains.
  • a greater degree of disorganization in adolescent brains.
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  • At the time of reward, nearly one-third of adolescent neurons became excited (shown in red) though the level of inhibition (in blue) changed marginally. Adult neurons registered much higher inhibitory activity and less excitation.
    • mira ahmad
       
      This explains the science behind the difference in brain activity between adults and teens. The adult neurons reacted with less excitation and higher inhibitory. 
  • The extreme difference in brain activity provides a possible physiological explanation as to why teenagers are more prone than adults to rash behaviour, addiction, and mental diseases
  • "This could intensify the effect of reward on decision making and answer several questions regarding adolescent behaviour,
  • The type of erratic activity in the cortex that she and Sturman observed could aggravate these conditions at a time when the maturing brain is vulnerable.
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    This article is interesting because it explains the science behind the difference in brain activity between adults and teens. It then gives a physiological explanation as to why teens are more prone then adults are to addiction, mental diseases, behavioural disorders and psychological illnesses. It speaks about different parts of the brain, relating them to their specific activities and then explains how this effects the teen negatively, while comparing everything with adults.
Daryl Bambic

The teenage brain | Science News for Students - 1 views

  • dopamine.
  • Dopamine levels in general peak during adolescence.
  • increased activity in the ventral striatum
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  • prefrontal cortex’s ability to boss the brain increases with age.
  • reward system can outmuscle the master planner.
  • adolescent brain specifically evolved to respond to rewards so teens would leave behind the protection provided by their parents and start exploring their environment — a necessary step toward the independence they will need in adulthood.
    • Daryl Bambic
       
      Evolutionary reward...the teen phase of development is what has pushed us forward with the new discoveries
  • So that’s why you have parents to act as your prefrontal cortex,” Frank jokes. Then, all too often, he says, “you reach adolescence and you don’t listen to your parents anymore.”
  • brain acts as the sculptor and chops away excess synapses. Scientists refer to this process as synaptic pruning.
    • Daryl Bambic
       
      Great image of pruning as sculpting
  • If you have ever thought that the choices teenagers make are all about exploring and pushing limits, you are on to something
  • necessary phase in teen development
  • exploratory period.
  • Even laboratory mice experience a similar phase during their development.
  • Young mice that explore most tend to live longest
  • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The scanner relies on a powerful magnet and radio waves to create detailed images of the brains
  • Teens also can play games that require them to make choices,
  • observing and measuring which parts of the teens’ brains are most active
  • During the risk-taking and rewards-based tests, one region deep inside the brain shows more activity in adolescents than it does in children or adults, Crone says. This region, known as the ventral striatum, is often referred to as the “reward center”
  • Adolescents are particularly sensitive and responsive to influence by friends, desires and emotions, researchers say. It’s one of the hallmarks of this stage in life.
  • eel good” response helps explain why they often give in to impulsive desires.
  • to be shouting louder” between the ages of 13 and 17 than at any other time during human development.
  • prefrontal cortex, it’s the brain’s master planner.
  • brain is locked in a tug-of-war between the logical pull of the prefrontal cortex and the impulsive pull of the ventral striatum.
  • toward years of serious risk-taking
  • prefrontal cortex seems to lag in developing. It turns out this delay serves an important evolutionary function,
  • So it’s important that the master planner not be too rigid or restrictive during adolescence. Instead, it stays open to learning.
  • One of the processes involves axons, or fibers that connect nerve cells. From infancy, these fibers allow one nerve cell to talk to another. Throughout the teen years, fatty tissue starts to insulate the axons from interfering signals — it is a bit like the plastic that coats electrical cables.
  • In axons, the insulating tissue allows information to zip back and forth between brain cells much more quickly. It also helps build networks that link the prefrontal cortex with other brain regions, allowing them to work together more efficiently.
  • The second key process involves synapses. A synapse is like a dock between nerve cells. Nerve cells communicate by transmitting chemical and electrical signals. Those signals move through the synapses.
  • brain starts discarding many of these connections
  • So the brain strengthens the synapses it really needs and eliminates those that either slow things down or aren’t useful.
alicia waid

Teens who smoke pot at risk for later schizophrenia, psychosis - Harvard Health Publica... - 0 views

    • alicia waid
       
      Regular marijuana use increases a teenagers chance to develop psychosis*, and developing schizophrenia*.
    • alicia waid
       
      *Psychosis: A temporary state filled with intense anxiety and hallucinations.
    • alicia waid
       
      *Schizophrenia: Disabling brain disorder that not only causes psychosis, but also problems concentrating and loss of emotional expression.
    • alicia waid
       
      In a study following 2,000 tenns as they start to develop into young adults, it was proven that young people who smoke marijuana at least 5 times were twice as likely to develop psychosis over the next 10 years of their lives compared to those who didn't smoke.
    • alicia waid
       
      It was also proven that early marijuana use could increase the speed of the onset of psychosis by three years. (Those most at risk are youths who might have some family member that is dealing with schizophrenia, or any other psychotic disorder). 
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    • alicia waid
       
      These people who have family members affected by psychosis have approximately a 1 in 10 chance of developing the same condition themselves (even if they've never smoked pot).  However, if smoking marijuana, this doubles their risk (1 in 5 chance).
    • alicia waid
       
      People who are not affected by psychosis have a 7 in 1,000 chance of developing a mental disorder.
    • alicia waid
       
      People who are not affected by psychosis but smoke marijuana double their risk: 14 in 1,000.
    • alicia waid
       
      A very popular study (nearly 50,000 young Swedish soldiers were followed for 15 years) showed that those who smoked marijuana at least once were more than twice as likely to develop schizophrenia as those who had never smoked marijuana.  
    • alicia waid
       
      It was shown that the heaviest users (used more than 50 times) were 6 times more likely to become schizophrenic than the nonsmokers.  
    • alicia waid
       
      Research on the association of marijuana and the brain is in a very early stage (much is still unknown).  THC* contributes to marijuana's psychological and physical effects.
    • alicia waid
       
      *THC: One of the active compounds in marijuana.
    • alicia waid
       
      One of the many things that are still unknown is how marijuana might lead to psychosis.  There is a theory that marijuana interferes with brain development during adolescence and young adulthood, but this theory is yet to be determined.
    • alicia waid
       
      Although many things are still unknown about the relation between the adolescent brain and marijuana, one this is certain: As a teen, by smoking marijuana, you are increasing your vulnerability to psychotic thinking.
  • regular marijuana use increases the chance that a teenager will develop psychosis
  • risk for later schizophrenia, psychosis
  • increases the risk of developing schizophrenia
  • five times were twice as likely to have developed psychosis over the next 10 years
  • smoked marijuana at least
  • hasten the onset of psychosis by three years
  • already have a mother, father, or sibling with schizophrenia
  • most at risk are youths
  • some other psychotic disorde
  • one in 10 chance of developing the condition
  • even if they never smoke pot
  • one in five chance
  • doubles their risk
  • 7 in 1,000 chance
  • 14 in 1,000.
  • possible link between marijuana use and psychosis
  • smoked marijuana at least once were more than twice as likely to develop schizophrenia as those who had never smoked pot
  • marijuana use might lead to psychosis
  • cigarette smoking and lung cancer
  • marijuana and the brain
  • six times as likely to develop schizophrenia as the nonsmokers
  • stimulates the brain and triggers other chemical reactions that contribute to the drug’s psychological and physical effects
  • not clear
  • theory
  • marijuana may interfere with normal brain development during the teenage years
  • young adulthood.
  • increase a young person’s vulnerability to psychotic thinking
  • reward of a short-time high isn’t worth the long-term risk of psychosis or a disabling disorder like schizophrenia.
alicia waid

Cannabis and mental health - 0 views

    • alicia waid
       
      Cannabis is too easy to access (become more and more easy to access, as well).  People are under the influence that smoking cannabis is not bad for you, and that it is, in fact, better than smoking tobacco.  However, this is not the case, as researchers are starting to see that cannabis might actually be causing mental illnesses. 
  • most drug users take other drugs in addition to cannabis create methodological problems and explain the dearth of reliable evidence
    • alicia waid
       
      It is believed that cannabis triggers the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in predisposed people, however this cannot be certain, because many of the people being researched on have taken other drugs, which makes it hard to determine wether the triggers are from the cannabis or from any of the other drugs.
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    • alicia waid
       
      During a test (that occurred over 15 years), it was discovered that by smoking marijuana during adolescence, you are increasing your risk of developing schizophrenia.  However, they are not certain that marijuana is the only cause: Other drugs might be a factor too, and a few other concepts. 
    • alicia waid
       
      In addition, research is showing that cannabis also has a relation with depression.  It was studied over a period of 15 years, and results show that by smoking cannabis, you are increasing your risk of developing a major depression.  It was also showed that the use of cannabis also increases the idea of suicide and inability to feel pleasure.  
    • alicia waid
       
      Although only few studies were talked about in the National institution of Health, they are enough to prove that cannabis increases ones rist of developing schizophrenia AND depression.  The studies also provide very little support to prove that there is also a link between marijuana and mental health problems that are largely due to self medication (harder to prove).  These studies are not trying to say that if you smoke cannabis you will develop schizophrenia or depression, however it is saying that those who are more vulnerable will.  
    • alicia waid
       
      It is important to note that those who use cannabis must reduce their usage if they want their risk of developing schizophrenia or depression to decrease.  It was estimated that if you were to have reduced your exposure to cannabis, the incidence of psychosis would have reduced treatment by as much as 50% (Dutch study).
    • alicia waid
       
      In a Swedish study, it was proved that the use of cannabis increases your chances of developing schizophrenia by 30%.  
    • alicia waid
       
      Even more people are anticipating that cannabis will continue to contribute to even more cases of mental illnesses in the future.
    • alicia waid
       
      With further analysis, it has been discovered that cannabis is the drug associated with the possibility of developing schizophrenia (and not the impact of other drugs).  
    • alicia waid
       
      During another experiment, it was found that 59 people with a basic diagnosis of a psychotic disorder show a strong association with the use of cannabis and psychosis.  It is evident that the longer you've been smoking the drug, the more your symtoms will worsen(there is a higher chance), just like with any other drug.  
    • alicia waid
       
      In New Zealand, it was discovered that people who smoke marijuana are three times more likely to develop schizophrenia, by the age of 15 or 18.  
    • alicia waid
       
      An Australian study was also made that shows the more you smoke cannabis, the higher your rates of anxiety or depression might be.  It was proven that this link is more prone to young women than young men, however this was not proved in any other study (except the australian one).  
    • alicia waid
       
      It was proven, however, that any young human being that has used cannabis three times or more by the age of 18 is more likely to have some sort of depressive disorder by the age of 26! (And unfortunately, this was proved even to those that stopped smoking cannabis and got themselves under control.  After the first 3 times, it was too late).
  • The link between cannabis and psychosis is well established
  • 1990s
  • link between use of marijuana and depression
  • triggers the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in predisposed people and also exacerbates the symptoms generally
  • use of marijuana during adolescence increased the risk of schizophrenia in a dose-response relation
  • possible causal role of other drugs, and prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia
  • led to the use of cannabis, rather than cannabis triggering the psychosis.
  • is associated with later schizophrenia and that this is not explained by prodromal symptoms
  • cannabis
  • Length of exposure to use of cannabis predicted the severity of the psychosis
  • strong association between use of cannabis and psychosis
  • Participants who showed psychotic symptoms at baseline and used cannabis had a worse outcome
  • used cannabis three times or more by age 15 or 18
  • more likely to have schizophreniform disorder at age 26
  • cannabis increased the risk of major depression
  • increase in suicidal ideation and anhedonia
  • the use of cannabis and anxiety or depression in a large cohort of 14-15 year olds followed for seven years
  • relation between
  • higher rates of anxiety or depression
  • frequency
  • study in the New Zealand
  • did not find an association between cannabis use at age 15 and depressive disorder at age 26
  • that young people who had used cannabis three times or more by age 18 were more likely to have a depressive disorder at age 26
  • importance of reducing the use of cannabis in people who use it
  • findings strengthen the argument that use of cannabis increases the risk of schizophrenia and depression
  • exposure to cannabis would have reduced the incidence of psychosis requiring treatment by as much as 50%
  • showing that the use of cannabis increased the risk of schizophrenia by 30%
  • cannabis will contribute to more episodes or new cases of the illness
Daryl Bambic

Smells Like Teen Synapses: A Look Inside Adolescent Brains and Behaviors - Knowing Neurons - 0 views

  • By puberty, the density of dendritic spines (small knobs which receive signals from axons) in the prefrontal cortex is two to three times greater compared to that of adults.
  • New synapses are either strengthened or eliminated based on an individual’s experiences.  Connections and pathways that are activated more frequently get reinforced and are more likely to remain through adulthood, while those accessed less frequently are lost across the teenage years.
  • prefrontal cortex (where much of this synaptic reorganization occurs) in supporting functions like problem solving, self-regulation, decision making, and long term planning, one can begin to see the implications for teenage behavior
Catherine Delisle

Building Superhighways in Your Brain | Harold Koplewicz | Big Think - 1 views

    • Catherine Delisle
       
      This video is a very good explanation of the importance in keeping our brain active so that the connections don't die off. Harold Kiplewicz compares the connections in the brain to a highway and our sense of direction. The brain will tend to forget about the country roads but it will remember the most frequently used highways, which is a great analogy that easy to remember. He also explains that because of the fact that the brain keeps developing until 20-25 years old, medication has a different impact on children and adolescents compared to adults.
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    This is a great site Catherine. I visit subscribe to BIG THINK. The metaphor for super highways is also very good.
steven bloom

The teenager Brain - 0 views

  •  
    This website talks about the brin of a preteen and a teenager. It is a credible website because it is written by a Adolescent speacialist and a parent coach Glenn Goldberg
Frankie Ferreira

The Adolescent Brain - 2 views

This website talks a lot about the teenager's brain and gives some useful stats about them, some are quite interesting.

Brain psychology adolescent teens illusions invisible mooseblog optical screenr span

Daryl Bambic

Cannabis & Psychosis: What do we know? - 0 views

  • Although it is well known that using cannabis can induce temporary psychotic/hallucinatory symptoms this accumulating body of evidence has suggested that there is an association between some youth who use cannabis regularly and enduring psychosis
  • requent cannabis use during adolescence
  • clinically significant increased risk of developing schizophrenia and other mental illnesses which feature psychosis
Daryl Bambic

Bipolar Disorder - 3 views

This is a credible site because it is recent and it is a medical website with the proper information on this disorder. It is also filled with tons of valuable information as well as facts to treat ...

brain psychology adolescents mania depression mixed episodes

courtney galli

NIMH · Schizophrenia - 0 views

    • courtney galli
       
      Negative symptoms, more commonly found in women
    • courtney galli
       
      Cases in adolescence.  Lots go unrecognized because of symptoms 
    • courtney galli
       
      Biological predisposition can have an effect
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    This is credible because it is a government site.  Government websites usually give correct statistics and tend to not be bias when giving information like this.    This site gives lots of new information that could have been used and lots of information that was already used.
Raghav Mohan

The Effects of Exercise on the Brain - 0 views

  •  
    Site completely states the main things about the effects of exercise on the brain. It helped me understand the basic things it can do and i was rather amazed. If anyone is confused about what exercise can do for your mental health THIS is the site to go to. It is very reliable since it is dedicated to education (.edu) and the information is constantly updated.
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    *sticky note* exercise balances out the chemicals i our brain which helps our nerve cells. And if you don't know our whole body functions on nerve cells (like a messenger) so without exercise we can never really perform to the fullest.
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    *sticky note* exercise also benefits us in many ways! for example: it avoids MAJOR stress from us. It also keeps us motivated and confident so that if ever a bad situation comes up, we would not go into a dull zone and become depressed.
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    *sticky note* It's good to be happy when exercising. Exercise also helps our reparative cell (we begin to lose nerve tissue nearing our 30's). Exercise helps slow that process down by A LOT. Which helps us live on healthy lived. People you see in the newspaper or online that are 100 years old! They don't just magically get that old by just sitting on there couch eating junk. They EXERCISE everyday to stay fit.
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    *sticky note* It helps generate new neurons which provides many benefits. Study shows that people who began exercising at there teen years and that are now 65-70 are much more active and healthy than any other 65-70 year olds.
Helena Daoud

How poverty influences a child's brain development - The Globe and Mail - 1 views

    • Helena Daoud
       
      Trying to find ways to help children living in poverty
    • Helena Daoud
       
      Not all children living in poverty grow up with physical or mental problems.
  •  
    This article was very interesting to read because it proved that poverty does affect a child brain and I love that they are trying to find a way to make sure these children aren't terribly affected in the future. 
Raghav Mohan

Stress Symptoms, Signs & Causes: Effects of Stress Overload - 0 views

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    This site clearly states the major facts about STRESS. It's a reliable site because I read into it and it is trust worthy and a non-profit organization that provides us information and it is constantly updated which shows that it is up to date. It helps us understand stress, it's symptoms, and causes.
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    what is stress? Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way.
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    We respond to stress in a unique way, it almost becomes "normal" to us. When we are overloaded by stress that is where many problems kick in and there is not much we can do about it besides try to control whatever it is that is bothering us and causing this stress
  •  
    Stress signs/symptoms are physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural.
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