Questions and Answers
During adolescence, there is a sharp increase in synaptic connections, also known as overproduction or exuberance. When does this overproduction occur?
During early adolescence
Which part of the brain is particularly involved in higher functions such as planning ahead, solving problems, and making moral judgments?
Frontal lobes
What happens to the overproduction of synapses that are not used during adolescence?
They wither away
During adolescence, the average brain loses what percentage of its volume through synaptic pruning?
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Which process of neurological growth in adolescence involves the wrapping of fat around the main part of the neuron to increase the speed of electrical signals?
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Which part of the brain continues to grow through adolescence and well into emerging adulthood?
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What is the last structure of the brain to stop growing, completing its phase of overproduction and pruning in the mid-20s?
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During what stage of development does overproduction of synaptic connections occur in the brain?
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Which part of the brain is particularly involved in most of the higher functions such as planning ahead, solving problems, and making moral judgments?
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When does synaptic pruning occur and what happens to the overproduction of synapses that are not used?
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Which process of neurological growth in adolescence involves the wrapping of fat around the main part of the neuron to increase the speed of electrical signals?
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What is the term used to describe the sharp decrease in synaptic connections during adolescence?
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Which part of the brain continues to grow through adolescence and well into emerging adulthood?
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What is the term used to describe the increase in synaptic connections during adolescence?
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Study Notes
Neurological Changes during Brain Development in Adolescence
- By age 6, the brain is already 95% of its adult size.
- Sharp increase in synaptic connections occurs around the time puberty begins (10-12 years), referred to as overproduction or exuberance.
- Overproduction of synaptic connections occurs in many parts of the brain during adolescence, especially concentrated in the frontal lobes.
- Frontal lobes are responsible for higher functions such as planning ahead, problem-solving, and moral judgments.
- Overproduction peaks at around age 11 or 12, followed by a massive amount of synaptic pruning.
- Synaptic pruning whittles down the overproduction of synapses, with synapses that are used remaining and those unused withering away.
- Between the ages of 12 and 20, the average brain loses 7-10% of its volume through synaptic pruning.
- Synaptic pruning allows the brain to work more efficiently, but it also makes the brain less flexible and amenable to change.
- Myelination, the process of wrapping neurons with a blanket of fat, continues through the teen years, increasing brain functioning speed and efficiency.
- Myelination also makes brain functioning less flexible and changeable.
- The cerebellum, previously thought to only be involved in basic functions like movement, is now found to be important for higher functions such as mathematics, music, decision making, social skills, and understanding humor.
- The cerebellum continues to grow through adolescence and into emerging adulthood, suggesting the potential for these functions continues to grow as well.
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