Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster: Puberty's Hidden Impacts on the brain

Summary

This project explores the profound changes that occur in the brain during puberty and their effects on emotional regulation and social behavior. Puberty triggers significant hormonal changes, particularly with estrogen and testosterone, leading to the maturation of the prefrontal cortex and increased activity in the limbic system. This results in heightened emotions, impulsivity, and shifts in decision-making processes. The research delves into how neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin influence emotions such as happiness, anger, and sadness. During puberty, the imbalance of these neurotransmitters, combined with the slow maturation of the prefrontal cortex and the early development of the amygdala, leads to intense emotional experiences and challenges in emotional regulation. The study also highlights gender differences in brain connectivity during puberty, with boys showing increased connectivity and girls experiencing decreased connectivity, which may contribute to higher rates of emotional issues in females. The project emphasizes the need for further research to better understand these developmental processes and to develop effective interventions to support adolescents in managing their emotions during this critical period.

Video Presentation

Impact Statement

Hi! I'm Daon Mun, a senior at Harbin Wanbang School. I have always been interested in the functioning of the body and especially how the brain worked. To learn more about the subject with professional guidance, I applied to the ELIO Academy's program, and have had the most exciting experience. During the course, I had the opportunity to research on a topic along with wonderful teammates. The research was about puberty's impact on the brain's processing of emotions. It dived deeper into the changes that occur during puberty and how it relates differently to males and females. Through the research, I have not only had the chance to read various scientific articles, but also had the opportunity to cooperate with different students. I am thankful for the guidance that was provided by the instructors which made the learning experience much more fruitful.

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_By: Daon Mun_

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Elio Academy.

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