Most adolescents exhibit rebellious behavior, resisting parental guidance and believing they know everything. A U.S. study indicates this phenomenon stems from developmental changes in the adolescent brain, which can hinder learning and cognitive abilities to some extent. Adolescent Mice Show Impaired Learning Ability Researchers at the State University of New York Medical Center trained mice to sit on a turntable and identify room landmarks.
The UK's Daily Mail reported on the 18th, citing Cheryl Smith, a professor of physiology and pharmacology at the medical center and one of the researchers: "We gave the mice three training sessions, each lasting 10 minutes. Pre-adolescent mice learned quickly, recognizing the markers in less than two sessions. In contrast, adolescent mice still couldn't identify the markers after three sessions."
Previous studies indicate that the human brain can absorb more information during youth, explaining why children possess stronger learning abilities. However, these abilities decline during adolescence and partially recover afterward.
Researchers currently attribute this phenomenon to the hippocampus, a structure in the brain responsible for memory and learning.During adolescence, an organelle protrusion in this region secretes large amounts of protein, reducing brain excitability and impairing spatial cognition, leading to diminished memory capacity.
This finding suggests that besides battling hormones, overprotective parents, and exam stress, adolescents should also guard against becoming mentally dull.
Smart Pills Become a Possibility Researchers suggest these findings could aid in developing "smart pills" to enhance adolescent memory. Smith stated: "People have long sought ways to improve learning and cognitive abilities to help teenagers study more effectively. This breakthrough may enable the development of drugs that boost memory in adolescents, especially those experiencing learning difficulties."
Researchers suggest that instead of spending large sums on private schools, parents might consider administering appropriate doses of steroids under medical supervision. Steroids can slow the development of the brain's protein-secreting structures.
Adolescent Brain Development
Prone to Moodiness and Selfishness
Smith explains that many negative behaviors in teens stem from structural changes in the developing brain.
Other studies indicate that the human brain's thought processes between ages 10 and 20 differ significantly from those in adulthood. Adolescents typically do not consider how their actions impact others, leading them to frequently appear moody, selfish, and unable to empathize.
Disrupted biological rhythms in adolescents explain their frequent mood swings. Smith notes that before relevant medications became available, applying appropriate pressure to adolescents could mitigate adverse effects of brain development and enhance their learning efficiency.
Researchers recommend that secondary education adopt diverse teaching strategies to improve students' learning abilities and motivation.