The Jean & Bill Booziotis Distinguished Lecture

Why teen brain development and teens' unpredictable behaviors are so important to forming adulthood

We often think of the teen years as tumultuous and from the perspective of parents or adults they can be difficult to navigate. Teens at times may act like adults yet at other times they make unreasonable risky choices that leaves us baffled often leading to conflict. However brain development studies now show that these behavioral changes are critical for them to form into adaptive adults. For more than 20 years we have been studying how the adolescent brain functions determining adulthood. Dr. Beatriz Luna will present her latest findings showing that brain chemicals that support reward behaviors change in specific ways during this time helping us understand why teens can be impulsive and risk takers—and offering insight into why many mental illnesses emerge at this period. We have also found new evidence that the critical thinking parts of the teen brain are highly plastic. This helps us understand and appreciate the importance of the range of experiences—whether adaptive or risky behaviors—that teens gravitate toward. These experiences play a crucial role in forming the adult brain and preparing it for aging. In sum the unpredictability of the teenage brain is a great and important part of brain development. Understanding the underlying brain mechanisms at this stage of development can inform approaches to support a healthier more adaptive adulthood.

Background: Dr. Luna is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry Bioengineering Pyschology and Radiology and Staunton Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Luna’s research uses multimodal neuroimaging methods including: functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI). Her findings have led to influential developmental models emphasizing the implications of specialization of different brain systems with regards to cognitive development.

About the event: This event is part of the Center for Vital Longevity's Jean & Bill Booziotis Distinguished Lecture Series made possible by the late Bill Booziotis former president of Booziotis and Company Architects and Center for Vital Longevity Advisory Council Member. Bill Booziotis and his wife Jean established the series to bring the Center’s work focused on understanding the science of the aging mind to the public.