Sunday, September 11, 2005

New Zealand Herald - Brain change in adolescence blamed for sulky teens - Friday 09, September 2005 18:11.00 PM - Technology & Science

Brain change in adolescence blamed for sulky teens
10.09.05

An explanation for teenagers' sulky outlook may have emerged from a study showing that adolescents suffer a form of brain regression at puberty.

Scientists have found young teenagers begin to lose the ability to discern important emotions in the faces of adults, causing them to behave temporarily like much younger children.

Professor David Skuse of the Institute of Child Health in London said hormonal surges at puberty may cause a re-wiring of the brain of adolescents, which interferes with their ability to interact socially with their elders.

"There is a temporary deterioration in children's capacity to interpret accurately emotions from facial expressions. This may go some way to explaining the 'Kevin' phenomenon portrayed so perceptively by [comedian] Harry Enfield."

Read the full article here : New Zealand Herald - Brain change in adolescence blamed for sulky teens - Friday 09, September 2005 18:11.00 PM - Technology & Science

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