The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist's Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults - Couverture souple

Jensen, Frances E.

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0007448368 ISBN 13 : 9780007448364

Editeur : Harper Thorsons

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur :

Renowned neurologist Dr. Frances E. Jensen offers a revolutionary look at the brains of teenagers, dispelling myths and offering practical advice for teens, parents and teachers.

Dr. Frances E. Jensen is chair of the department of neurology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and an internationally known expert in neurology and the teenage brain. As a mother, teacher, researcher, clinician and frequent lecturer to parents and teens, she is in a unique position to explain to readers the mystery and magic of the teen brain. In The Teenage Brain, Dr. Jensen will bring to readers the new, sometimes astonishing findings that remain buried in academic journals. Along the way, she will explore a few myths about adolescent behaviour and offer pointers and practical suggestions on how to negotiate this difficult and dynamic life stage for parents, teachers and even teens themselves.

The Teenage Brain is one of the first books to focus exclusively on the mind development of adolescents and will dispel the many widespread misunderstandings about teenage brains. Samples of some of the most recent findings that will be discussed in the book include:

• Teens are better learners than adults because their brain cells more readily "build" memories than adults. But this special gift has a downside: their heightened adaptability can be hijacked by addiction, and the adolescent brain can become addicted more strongly and for a longer duration than the adult brain.
• Venus and Mars really emerge in adolescence. In fact, studies show that girls' brains are a full two years more mature than boys' brains in the mid-teens, possibly explaining differences seen in the classroom, as well as in their social behaviour.
• Contrary to popular opinion, adolescents may not be as resilient to the effects of drugs as we think they are. Recent experimental and human studies show that occasional use of marijuana, for instance, can cause lingering memory problems, even days after smoking, and that long-term use of pot impacts later adulthood IQ.
• Multi-tasking causes divided attention and has been shown to reduce learning ability in the teenage brain. Multi-tasking also has some addictive qualities, which may result in habitual short attention in teenagers.
• Emotionally stressful situations may impact the adolescent more than the adult: stress in these years can have permanent effects on mental health and has been reported to lead to higher risk of developing certain neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression.

The book will present hard data intermingled with accessible and relatable anecdotes drawn from Dr. Jensen's experiences as a parent, clinician and public speaker. Finally, The Teenage Brain will offer practical suggestions for how parents, teens, schools and even the legal system can better deal with adolescents on their journey into adulthood.

Présentation de l'éditeur :

In this instant New York Times bestseller, now available in paperback, renowned neurologist Dr. Frances E. Jensen offers a revolutionary look at the brains of teenagers, dispelling myths and “offer[ing] support and a way for parents to understand and relate to their own soon-to-be-adult offspring” (Publishers Weekly). Drawing on her research knowledge and clinical experience, this internationally respected neurologist—and mother of two boys—offers a revolutionary look at the adolescent brain, providing remarkable insights that translate into practical advice for both parents and teenagers. Driven by the assumption that brain growth was almost complete by the time a child began kindergarten, scientists believed for many years that the adolescent brain was essentially an adult one—only with fewer miles on it. Over the past decade, however, neurology and neuropsychology research has shown that the teen years encompass vitally important physiological and neurological stages of brain development. Motivated by her experience of parenting two teenage boys, Dr. Jensen gathers what we’ve discovered about adolescent brain functioning, wiring and capacity and, in this groundbreaking, accessible book, explains how these eye-opening findings not only dispel commonly held myths about the teenage years, but also yield practical suggestions that will help adults and teenagers negotiate the mysterious and magical world of adolescence. With insights drawn from her years as a parent, clinician and researcher, Dr. Jensen explores adolescent brains at work in learning and multitasking, stress and memory, sleep, addiction and decision-making. The Teenage Brain explains why teenagers are not as resilient to the effects of drugs as we previously thought; reveals how multitasking impacts learning ability and concentration; and examines the consequences of emotionally stressful situations on mental health during and beyond adolescence. Rigorous yet accessible, warm yet direct, The Teenage Brain sheds light on the brains—and behaviors—of adolescents and young adults, and analyzes this knowledge to share specific ways in which parents, educators and even the legal system can help them navigate their way more smoothly into adulthood in our ever challenging world.

À propos de cette édition

• Éditeur: Harper Thorsons
• ISBN 10: 0007448368
• ISBN 13: 9780007448364
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 384