Is the teenage brain humanity’s greatest mystery? Scientists are beginning to explain the extraordinary physical changes it undergoes — but there is much still to be discovered.
Expert hails 'fearless energy' of teenagers
Is the teenage brain humanity's greatest mystery? Scientists are beginning to explain the extraordinary physical changes it undergoes - but there is much still to be discovered.
The scene is a classic of British comedy. Kevin, played by Harry Enfield, is about to become 13. Full of excitement, he jokes lovingly with his mother and father. But the moment midnight strikes, he undergoes a Jekyll and HydeFrom a book by Robert Louis Stevenson, used to describe someone who has a good side and an evil side. transformation, turning into a rude and surly monster. "It's so unfair - I hate you!" he tells his astonished parents.
This is a caricatureAn exaggerated description or picture of someone. of what happens in adolescence - but like all good caricatures, it contains some truth. "The teenage years can feel like a shocking transformation," observes science writer David Robson in a recent article for the BBC. It is "a turning inside out of the mind and soul that renders the person unrecognisable from the child they once were".
This includes uncontrollable mood swings, identity crises and hunger for social approval, as well as risk-taking. Adults generally react to these traits with exasperation. But according to psychologist Terri Apter, they are simply a product of physical changes to the brain which are so enormous that your head can feel like it is exploding.
Compared to other scientific challenges such as the deep ocean or outer space, our ignorance of the subject is profound. But over the past two decades, scientists have managed to chart the neuralRelating to the nerves. changes that occur in adolescence.
During infancy, the brain builds many connections between neuronsNeurons, also known as nerve cells, are cells in the nervous system that use chemical or electrical signals to transmit information throughout the body. , before getting rid of those that are not useful. This plasticityEasily shaped or adaptable. makes learning very easy. The frontal cortexA region of the brain linked to behaviour, personality and decision making. continues to build and prune connections into early adolescence.
The brain's frontal and parietal lobesIncludes areas concerned with sensory information. also reinforce the most important connections. It is thus able to develop many skills, from problem-solving to abstract reasoning.
The problem is that some parts of the brain develop more quickly than others. The ones associated with reward do so faster than those linked to self-control, making impulsive and risky behaviour more likely.
There is also increased activity in the area which controls interaction with other people. This encourages friendships, but can result in social anxiety.
On the plus side, these changes can be turned into strengths if approached in the right way. Disregard of authority can drive social, political and technological change.
"You have a new generation that's going to explore boundaries," says Apter. "You have a great deal of inventiveness and adventurousness and creativity." She refers to this as "fearless energy".
There have certainly been some extraordinary teenagers. 1n 1985, aged 13, mathematician Ruth Lawrence became the youngest Briton to earn a first-class university degree. At the same age, in 1804, the actor William Betty1 caused such a sensation that people in London literally fought for seats to see him.
"With the right support," writes David Robson, "that mental explosion may feel less like a shocking jolt, and more like a burst of fireworks: dramatic, yes, but also creative, awe-inspiring and beautiful."
<h5 class=" eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Is the teenage brain humanity's greatest mystery?</strong></h5>
Yes: It is relatively easy for us to explore things outside ourselves. What happens inside our own brains is far more challenging, and the adolescent phase is one requiring a great deal more research.
No: The mysteries of the mind are nothing compared to those of outer space. Trying to discover whether there is life elsewhere in the universe is the greatest challenge for scientists.
Or... The greatest mystery of all is one which no living creature can ever solve - whether there is life after death. There is only one way to find out, and those who embark on it cannot report back.
Jekyll and Hyde - From a book by Robert Louis Stevenson, used to describe someone who has a good side and an evil side.
Caricature - An exaggerated description or picture of someone.
Neural - Relating to the nerves.
Neurons - Neurons, also known as nerve cells, are cells in the nervous system that use chemical or electrical signals to transmit information throughout the body.
Plasticity - Easily shaped or adaptable.
Frontal cortex - A region of the brain linked to behaviour, personality and decision making.
Parietal lobes - Includes areas concerned with sensory information.
Expert hails ‘fearless energy’ of teenagers

Glossary
Jekyll and Hyde - From a book by Robert Louis Stevenson, used to describe someone who has a good side and an evil side.
Caricature - An exaggerated description or picture of someone.
Neural - Relating to the nerves.
Neurons - Neurons, also known as nerve cells, are cells in the nervous system that use chemical or electrical signals to transmit information throughout the body.
Plasticity - Easily shaped or adaptable.
Frontal cortex - A region of the brain linked to behaviour, personality and decision making.
Parietal lobes - Includes areas concerned with sensory information.