carolla
Brainstorm - what's up in the adolescent brain!
Posted on: 03/03/2014 21:06
Last week I listened to a webinar with psychiatrist & neuroscientist Dr. Dan Siegel. His most recent book (and he has many!) is "BRAINSTORM - The Power & Purpose of the Teenage Brain."
It was quite fascinating to hear about some of the neuroscience that underlies the many changes of adolescence - which, BTW, he defines as a period of about 12 years duration, starting around 12-13 years of age. And he focuses a lot on the necessary adaptation of this phase, moving from childhood to adulthood.
Interestingly, the book is written both for parents AND adolescents to read - to understand better what's going on in the body - we tell our kids about lots of other body functions & how to look after themselves, but not much about brain function & how to look after that important aspect of health.
Has anybody read it? Curious to know what you think. He also has some good lectures on youtube on this subject (and many others) if reading isn't your fav. (and as disclosure - I have NO connection with him or the publishers etc. - it's just a topic of interest for me!)
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Pinga
Posted on: 03/03/2014 21:25
wow, coinicdence. I read an article on this same topic from a National Geographic at the coffee shop tonight, I think it was a 2011 publication.
Pinga
Posted on: 03/03/2014 21:28
Here is the article: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/teenage-brains/dobbs-text
I found it interesting.
carolla
Posted on: 03/03/2014 22:50
Excellent article pinga - enjoyed it (although I confess I was aggravated by having to 'join' NG to finish it!) It covers much of the same territory. It is interesting, to learn more about what's going on inside those massive heads!
Pinga
Posted on: 03/03/2014 22:54
'tis,
it is quite odd that it was sitting, unless....someone happened to bring it in because of the recent news items..
carolla
Posted on: 03/03/2014 23:20
One of those curious little moments of serendipity. Or as my husband wrote on a note for me - a quote he heard someone say on the radio - "coincidence is just God's way of remaining anonymous." Messages abound.
carolla
Posted on: 03/03/2014 23:26
I watched a bit of one of Siegel's youtube vids - and you know what happens on youtube ... you go from here to there, to somewhere else ... down the rabbit hole! Anyway - I noticed he & Goldie Hawn did a TedMed talk in 2009 about a programme called "Mind Up" developed by her Hawn Foundation - to teach elementary level children mildfulness, and happiness skills, and neuroscience! How to look after their brains - how to relieve stress, promote growth in some of the brain areas to help with regulation, increase resiliency etc. It seemed to get pretty impressive results. There was a phrase somewhere along the way - "doing daily brain brushing" for better mental health - equivalent of doing daily tooth brushing - which we all teach our kids, but we're not so aware of brain care.
InannaWhimsey
Posted on: 03/03/2014 23:35
nope, haven't read it, but i do think our energy problems could be solved just by harnessing the power, enthusiasm of young 'uns...hook them up to batteries for a few hours a day and voom...
we'd never have to worry again :3
carbon neutral, here we come!
carolla
Posted on: 03/04/2014 12:19
If I could have the adolescent energy, in my wise (?) adult brain, that would be awesome!
seeler
Posted on: 03/06/2014 14:21
Granddaughter is probably about in the middle of the age-range. She's just had her 17th birthday. She can go from being very mature and responsible to being an emotional mess. She can be loving and caring - or selfish and inconsiderate - helpful or self-centered.
I don't think the teen years are easy for the young person or the parents (or grandparents).
carolla
Posted on: 03/06/2014 22:37
True - they're not usually considered or lived as easy times Seeler - I must agree!