Video Documentary 3
Teenager’s brain functions differently at various stages of growth. Frontline producer Sarah Spinks elaborates why different teenagers respond differently to the world. The video proves the application of different parts of the brain when reasoning about a situation despite the imagination and thoughts of many people that the attitude or hormones of teenagers make them respond differently to the world. Adult brains function differently from teenagers’ brains because they use different parts of the brain to process feelings and emotions encountered (Spinks, 2002). On the other hand, the brain presents an extremely dynamic place that continues to develop as an individual grows explaining differences between the child, teenager, and adult brains. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) technology plays a critical role in determining different growth patterns found in teenager’s brain. Moreover, the number of cells and blood vessels in the brain influence the functioning of the teenager’s brain. The presence of new information like those learned in school or performance of different tasks activates the brain leading to significant changes.
Lessons learned from the video
The video helped viewers understand different aspects of the teenager's brain. First, the viewer could realize the reason behind differences in actions and reactions towards certain observations between teenagers and adults. The teenage uses a different part of the brain from the adult that makes them reacts differently to activities. Second, the video explained the importance of a good rest in brain development. According to the FRONTLINE (2002), a brain should get enough rest for it to function and grow effectively. People should not sleep because they are tired but should make it as a normal procedure of allowing the brain to grow and develop. Finally, the video plays a critical role in helping parents understand their children in the teenage age. Teens in the 21st century live a more heavy, prosperous, and complex life than before. Parents should always be involved in their teen’s activities and advice them accordingly to avoid engaging in risky behaviors learned from peers in the internet and other social platforms. As the teenage grows to adulthood so does the brain, and the probability of engaging in risky behaviors increases with age (FRONTLINE, 2002).
References
FRONTLINE. (2002). Inside the Teenage Brain. PBS. Retrieved July 08, 2016 from
http://www.pbs.org/video/2365601861/
Spinks, S. (2002). One reason teens respond differently to the world: Immature brain circuitry.
PBS. Retrieved July 08, 2016 from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/work/onereason.html
