When children are young, their brains undergo dramatic expansion. By the age of six, a child’s brain has developed to about 95 percent of its full size. Although the brain has done a lot during these formative years, many changes must be made before it can function like an adult brain. Adolescence is a period of intense brain remodeling that continues until a child’s 20s (Diekema, 2020). Developmental factors such as advancing age, life experiences, and hormonal changes during puberty can all lead to changes in the brain. The adolescent brain undergoes dramatic changes as it goes through the puberty stage. The most notable shift was the “pruning” of inactive compounds in the children’s gray matter that are responsible for higher cognitive functions. Meanwhile, other bonds also strengthened. In this way, the brain optimizes its performance to use less energy—a consequence of the “use it or lose it” concept. The back of the brain is where this circumcision process begins. The prefrontal cortex, at the front of the brain, was the last area to experience changes. A child’s ability to plan ahead, consider possible outcomes, find creative solutions to challenges, and suppress impulses all stems from the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for decision-making. This brain region stops developing only in early adulthood. Because the prefrontal cortex is still maturing in adolescents, they may rely more on the amygdala than adults to make decisions and cope with difficulties. The amygdala is associated with reactive states and behaviors such as anger and violence (Diekema, 2020). continue…
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