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Inside the Teenage Brain

Video: Inside the Teenage Brain
Cayla SandlinEDUC 121
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana

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Inside the Teenage Brain
The first scene in the video, Inside the Teenage Brain, Mr. and Mrs. ODonnell are trying
to wake up their teenage son, Charlie, for school. Charlie shouts at his mother and father, saying
that he is not yet ready to wake up. During my teenage years, I dont remember having a hard
time getting up, but I remember I was sometimes rude or short-tempered towards my parents. I
observe Charlie being rude to his parents throughout the clip of him getting ready for school and
eating breakfast. During the interview, Charlie mentions that he thinks his parents are uncool.
I think this is a common feeling teenagers have towards their parents. Teenagers are still
developing and they are lacking to behavioral development of the brain since the front part of the
brain is not developed yet. Parents are constantly on their teenagers, which is just irritating
teenagers. Like infants, teenagers are going through a rapid growth development in the brain.
I think, generally, studying brain development is amazing anyway. After watching this
video, I have a better understanding of the human brain and the process in which it develops. I
found it really interesting that the brain goes through another major grow spurt right before
pubertyjust like the growth spurt that infants go through. During the early teenage years, it is
important for teens to use these cells during pruning to ensure they get developed. If the
teenager is playing sports or instrumentsdoing productive things with the brainit will help in
positive usage and development of the cells. However, if a teenager is not using these cells
productively, like sitting on the couch, watching television, they will lose those cells because
they are not being stimulated properly.
I remember being a moody teenager like Brittany. I never yelled at my parents, but I
remember being short-tempered. During the video, Brittany and her brother have a huge,
shouting outburst. I really loved how their mother did not intervene. Brittanys mother
thoroughly understands that teenage mood swings are a part of teenage development and that the
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Inside the Teenage Brain
part of the brain that helps control mood swings is not yet developed in her daughter. I think that
teenage mood swings dealt with in a patient and loving manner. Shouting back at the teenager
will not help the situationBrittanys mother did not shout back. If the teenager is doing
something wrong, instead of prying at the mood swing or making it worse, a parent or teacher
needs to softly speak to them and explain the consequence in a polite manner. Teenagers a still
developingthey are still children; parents need to understand that.
During my teenage years, my mother and I constantly fought. My younger brother and
my father were annoyed with how much we argued. Most of our arguments were due to my
rolling my eyes or making an ugly face. Most of the time, I didnt know I was making a face at
my mother. Our conflicts usually began because I wasnt finished doing my hair, or I would
rather have been with my friends but my parents were making me go somewhere with them. I
felt like my mom and dad didnt understand me. This portion of the video touches on parents
and teenagers not understanding each other. The cerebellum is not yet developed during the
teenage years. Because of this, the social aspect is shakyhence the reason teens and parents
argue. The process of speaking smoothly and calmly isnt smoothed out yet.
I dont remember being much of a sleeper during my teenage years. WaitI take that
back. I do remember falling asleep a couple times during high school in some classes. I played
softball, had a boyfriend, and friends that I wanted to hang out with, so I am sure that I didnt get
the recommended 9 hours of sleep like the researches in the video suggest. I dont remember
having a hard time waking up for school; I just remember needing naps during class. I passed all
of my classes that I slept in; probably because I fell asleep during classes that I excelled in or got
my work done early in. The researchers say that no matter what teenagers are learning or where
they are learning, it all depends on their amount of sleep. Two students were tested on REM
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Inside the Teenage Brain
sleep, Charlie and Nikki. Nikki slept very well, whereas Charlie didnt. Nikki had better test
scores and even improved her skills. Charlie, lacking in REM sleep, suffered in test scores while
Nikki moved ahead. This proves that we are learning while we sleep and that REM sleep is
important.
Prior to watching this video and reading the article for last class session What Makes
Teens Tick, has really taught me that it is important to have patience with teenagers. Teenagers
are still learning and developing, just like little kids. People and connections that are in their
lives make that they are and give them the comfort they need. No matter how moody a teen is,
parents and teachers still need to be there for teenagers. Teenagers secretively want love and
affection from their parents and teachers. From my teenage experience, I pulled away just a little
from my parentsI wanted to be with my friends. But once I reached my early twenties, I enjoy
being with my parents. These days, my mom is the first person I call for major situations or just
to go shopping. Charlie, in the video, says that he is ready to go to college and to live in a dorm
with no rules, however, all the other teens in the video admit that they love their moms, trusts
their moms, and go to them for most advice. For now on, I know that I need to just be calm and
respectful with teenagers, keep my cool when they have an attitude, and I need to understand that
their mood swing will go away.