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The teenage brain

Why do some teenagers drive fast? Why do many teenagers find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning? A leading neuroscientist has some surprising answers鈥�

Teenagers are an alien species. Well, that鈥檚 not exactly the conclusion of Sarah-Jayne Blakemore鈥檚 research, but it鈥檚 a crude summary. Professor Blakemore, author of Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain, is a leading neuroscientist who studies the teenage brain. When humans enter adolescence their brains, as well as their bodies, go through a period of transformation. And, during this period their behaviour alters. They become more risk-taking for example, and more acutely conscious of how they鈥檙e perceived by others. Professor Blakemore even has an explanation for why they can鈥檛 get out of bed.

Presenter David Edmonds
Producer Ben Cooper

(Image: Parent and teenager, Credit: Shutterstock)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Mon 27 Jul 2020 09:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 11 Aug 2018 19:50GMT
  • Sun 12 Aug 2018 02:50GMT
  • Sun 12 Aug 2018 18:50GMT
  • Tue 14 Aug 2018 17:50GMT
  • Sat 25 Jul 2020 08:50GMT
  • Sat 25 Jul 2020 13:50GMT
  • Sat 25 Jul 2020 22:50GMT
  • Sun 26 Jul 2020 03:50GMT
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  • Mon 27 Jul 2020 09:50GMT