CBBC Spring Speaker Series

A Developmental Neuroscience Perspective on the Risks and Opportunities of Adolescence

Adolescence is marked by dramatic changes in brain development, second only to infancy. However, the adolescent brain has often been portrayed as defective and viewed as the cause of suboptimal behaviors. Media depictions of the adolescent brain are fraught with images of teens’ brains with regions dedicated to sex, sleep, and emotional liability. Rather than contributing to problem behaviors, the developing brain is evolutionarily programmed to adapt and learn, to promote social connection and competence, and to set the stage for lifelong flourishing. In this talk, I will draw on developmental social neuroscience research, underscoring the malleability of the adolescent brain. I will highlight how neurobiological sensitivity to social context can be an opportunity for promoting social adjustment, redirecting negative trajectories to help adolescents thrive.

If you have questions, or need the Zoom link, or want to meet with a speaker, please contact: Sonia Cavigelli (sac34@psu.edu) OR Chuck Geier (cfg2@psu.edu)