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Teen Brain Changes

Changes in the Teen Brain and their Behavioral Manifestations Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathways (Reward & Motivation) Sex hormones ↑ Early maturation of glutamatergic dopaminergic signaling (excitatory) pathways ↑ Dopamine receptor density in ventral striatum ↑ Phasic dopamine release by ventral tegmental area Exaggerated response to novelty & reward ↑ Risk taking ↑ Impulsivity ↑ Novelty seeking ↑ Vulnerability to substance use disorder ↑ Potential for unsafe behaviors (e.g. unprotected sex) until executive networks mature (later) Frontolimbic Pathways (Emotional Regulation & Impulse Control) Late maturation of GABAergic (inhibitory) pathways Early maturation of amygdala ↓ Top-down control over amygdala by immature prefrontal cortex (PFC) Difficulty regulating stress ↓ Emotional regulation & impulse control ↑ Sensitivity & excitability of amygdala ↑ Response to emotional stimuli (limbic > PFC control) Mood swings ↑ Reactive decisions ↑ Sensitivity to peer evaluation ↑ Memory of emotional events ↑ Vulnerability to anxiety & mood disorders Sleep-Wake Regulation Pathways Suprachiasmatic nucleus maturation shifts circadian rhythm later ↓ Accumulation of sleep pressure Melatonin secretion is ↓ & occurs later in evening Delayed sleep phase & altered circadian rhythm ↑ Length of time awake before feeling tired Evening chronotype (↑ evening wakefulness & difficulty with early waking) Conflict between early school start & delayed sleep phase Late sleeping ↓ Sleep Chronic sleep deprivation Irritability ↓ Concentration Frontoparietal Pathways (Executive Function) Grey matter synaptic pruning Androgens facilitate synthesis of myelin in oligodendrocytes Aberrant pruning Elimination of excess or weak connections Myelination ↑ speed & ↓ energy demand for impulse conduction ↑ Vulnerability to psychiatric disorders ↑ Efficiency of neural circuits (occurs “back-to front”; prefrontal cortex last) ↑ Learning capacity for frequently practiced activities ↑ Executive functioning & abstract thought (later) ↑ Performance with practice (eg. sports, language, instruments) ↑ Hypothetical reasoning & future planning Author: Katelyn du Plessis Reviewers: Taylor Krawec, Trevor Low, Emily J. Doucette, Jean K. Mah*, *MD at time of publication Legend: Default Mode Network (Social Cognition) ↑ Time with peers ↑ Sensitivity to social context & rewards ↑ Self-awareness & reflection ↑ Drive for peer acceptance Medial prefrontal cortex & posterior cingulate connections mature ↑ Ability to mentalize ↑ Ability to take another’s perspective (versus as a child) ↑ Ability to navigate social situations ↑ Sense of identity Hippocampus undergoes structural refinement & ↑ integration with prefrontal cortex & amygdala ↑ Encoding, retrieval & emotional contextualization of experiences ↑ Autobiographical memory Development of cohesive self narrative Pathophysiology Mechanism Behavioral Manifestations Consequences Published Nov 26, 2025 on www.thecalgaryguide.com