interesting perspective on teenager moods

[Guest guest]

In light of recent discussions on teenager behavior, I thought this was an

interesting article that was published Monday in Nature Neuroscience. It

doesn't explain everything about teenagers but it seems to provide some

important concepts to consider about paradoxic hormonal actions during that time

frame.

:-)

Chemical reactions in the brain force teenagers' mood swings

Alok Jha, science correspondent

Monday March 12, 2007

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2031771,00.html

They have a reputation for being sulky, uncommunicative and argumentative

little brats. But according to scientists, blaming teenagers for their

tantrums and mood swings is - in the words of the teenager - " just

SO unfair " .

Their petulant behaviour is all down to an unexpected chemical reaction in

their developing brains. Scientists have found that the mechanism normally

used by the brain to calm itself down in stressful situations seems to

work in the opposite way in teenagers, making them even more anxious.

When the brain senses a stressful situation, it reacts by switching on

receptors, using a range of chemicals, including a steroid called THP. In

an adult or even a younger individual, THP would reduce anxiety. But in

experiments on adolescent mice, THP increased anxiety.

The experiments, by Sheryl , a physiologist at the State University

of New York, offer the first physiological explanation for adolescent mood

swings. Previous work has focused on analysing behavioural changes in

teenagers during adolescence. Her results are published today in Nature

Neuroscience.

In teenagers, the behavioural response to the increased anxiety due to THP

would result in even more acute stress, said Prof . How individuals

reacted would depend on their personality - where some people might cry,

others would get angry.

" It could be an emotional reaction and it might be fluctuating too because

it's an amplified reaction to the stress which may not seem the

appropriate reaction to an adult. Yet, for the teenager, they don't have a

whole lot of control. It could be frustrating for the teenager and the

parent. This is a reaction that seems like an over-reaction to the adult,

perhaps. But to the teenager, it is absolutely the only thing they are

able to do. "

Prof said that the paradoxical effect in teenagers' brains can be

explained by the fluctuation in hormones that accompanies this phase of

their lives. She successfully tested this idea by artificially altering

the levels of certain hormones in the brains of her mice.

The social awkwardness of teenagers has been the subject of several

studies in recent years. Scientists have shown that the combination of

having a brain that is not yet fully developed and the hormonal stresses

of puberty can explain much of the infamous behaviour of adolescents.

Scientists at University College London presented research last year

showing that teenagers could not help being sulky because they were still

developing social skills and did not have the full mental hardware to see

the world from someone else's point of view or predict the consequences of

their actions.

[Guest guest]

ok, I'm running away until my boys are adults!! 3 teenagers at the same time?

Keegan acts this way now!!! could it get worse? lead me to the padded room

now!!! and bring lots of coconut rum and pinapple juice!!

interesting perspective on teenager moods

In light of recent discussions on teenager behavior, I thought this was an

interesting article that was published Monday in Nature Neuroscience. It doesn't

explain everything about teenagers but it seems to provide some important

concepts to consider about paradoxic hormonal actions during that time frame.

:-)

Chemical reactions in the brain force teenagers' mood swings

Alok Jha, science correspondent

Monday March 12, 2007

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2031771,00.html

They have a reputation for being sulky, uncommunicative and argumentative

little brats. But according to scientists, blaming teenagers for their

tantrums and mood swings is - in the words of the teenager - " just

SO unfair " .

Their petulant behaviour is all down to an unexpected chemical reaction in

their developing brains. Scientists have found that the mechanism normally

used by the brain to calm itself down in stressful situations seems to

work in the opposite way in teenagers, making them even more anxious.

When the brain senses a stressful situation, it reacts by switching on

receptors, using a range of chemicals, including a steroid called THP. In

an adult or even a younger individual, THP would reduce anxiety. But in

experiments on adolescent mice, THP increased anxiety.

The experiments, by Sheryl , a physiologist at the State University

of New York, offer the first physiological explanation for adolescent mood

swings. Previous work has focused on analysing behavioural changes in

teenagers during adolescence. Her results are published today in Nature

Neuroscience.

In teenagers, the behavioural response to the increased anxiety due to THP

would result in even more acute stress, said Prof . How individuals

reacted would depend on their personality - where some people might cry,

others would get angry.

" It could be an emotional reaction and it might be fluctuating too because

it's an amplified reaction to the stress which may not seem the

appropriate reaction to an adult. Yet, for the teenager, they don't have a

whole lot of control. It could be frustrating for the teenager and the

parent. This is a reaction that seems like an over-reaction to the adult,

perhaps. But to the teenager, it is absolutely the only thing they are

able to do. "

Prof said that the paradoxical effect in teenagers' brains can be

explained by the fluctuation in hormones that accompanies this phase of

their lives. She successfully tested this idea by artificially altering

the levels of certain hormones in the brains of her mice.

The social awkwardness of teenagers has been the subject of several

studies in recent years. Scientists have shown that the combination of

having a brain that is not yet fully developed and the hormonal stresses

of puberty can explain much of the infamous behaviour of adolescents.

Scientists at University College London presented research last year

showing that teenagers could not help being sulky because they were still

developing social skills and did not have the full mental hardware to see

the world from someone else's point of view or predict the consequences of

their actions.

[Guest guest]

I'm going with you !!!!! Now I know why my mom said kids should be mummyfied at

13 and turned loose on their 18th birthday LOL try 15, 17 and 28 (who acts

like 8 most times)..oh and the 38 yo dau's bf who also acvts 8 most times..

I just read a report that eating extra fish, increasing Omega-3, actually can

make you happier.. something to do with increasing gray matter in the parts of

the brain that deals with emotions

http://www.wmconnect.com/whatsnew/default.jsp?story=20070313-1312

.. thought of you when I read it with all you have been saying about Omegas

over the years.. I do know that when I take my fish oils I really do feel

better. Got Dave and the boys taking them too..

Casey

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Get your own web address.

Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.

http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL

[Guest guest]

Aha, I'm detecting a kind of reverse Pan policy being developed at the

Halloran home. Instead of the boys running away to avoid growing up, it's the

mother running away UNTIL they grow up.

Wow! All I know is that YOU WILL SURVIVE! (Wish I could link to the actual

song to start playing here!)

Lots of love coming your way,

:-)

Mom to Kendra, and Camille

interesting perspective on teenager moods

In light of recent discussions on teenager behavior, I thought this was an

interesting article that was published Monday in Nature Neuroscience. It doesn't

explain everything about teenagers but it seems to provide some important

concepts to consider about paradoxic hormonal actions during that time frame.

:-)

Chemical reactions in the brain force teenagers' mood swings

Alok Jha, science correspondent

Monday March 12, 2007

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2031771,00.html

They have a reputation for being sulky, uncommunicative and argumentative

little brats. But according to scientists, blaming teenagers for their

tantrums and mood swings is - in the words of the teenager - " just

SO unfair " .

Their petulant behaviour is all down to an unexpected chemical reaction in

their developing brains. Scientists have found that the mechanism normally

used by the brain to calm itself down in stressful situations seems to

work in the opposite way in teenagers, making them even more anxious.

When the brain senses a stressful situation, it reacts by switching on

receptors, using a range of chemicals, including a steroid called THP. In

an adult or even a younger individual, THP would reduce anxiety. But in

experiments on adolescent mice, THP increased anxiety.

The experiments, by Sheryl , a physiologist at the State University

of New York, offer the first physiological explanation for adolescent mood

swings. Previous work has focused on analysing behavioural changes in

teenagers during adolescence. Her results are published today in Nature

Neuroscience.

In teenagers, the behavioural response to the increased anxiety due to THP

would result in even more acute stress, said Prof . How individuals

reacted would depend on their personality - where some people might cry,

others would get angry.

" It could be an emotional reaction and it might be fluctuating too because

it's an amplified reaction to the stress which may not seem the

appropriate reaction to an adult. Yet, for the teenager, they don't have a

whole lot of control. It could be frustrating for the teenager and the

parent. This is a reaction that seems like an over-reaction to the adult,

perhaps. But to the teenager, it is absolutely the only thing they are

able to do. "

Prof said that the paradoxical effect in teenagers' brains can be

explained by the fluctuation in hormones that accompanies this phase of

their lives. She successfully tested this idea by artificially altering

the levels of certain hormones in the brains of her mice.

The social awkwardness of teenagers has been the subject of several

studies in recent years. Scientists have shown that the combination of

having a brain that is not yet fully developed and the hormonal stresses

of puberty can explain much of the infamous behaviour of adolescents.

Scientists at University College London presented research last year

showing that teenagers could not help being sulky because they were still

developing social skills and did not have the full mental hardware to see

the world from someone else's point of view or predict the consequences of

their actions.

[Guest guest]

Gosh, Case, I can not sign onto the article. Can you cut and paste it?? If

not, I'll figure out how to get signed in.

wendy :-)

Re: interesting perspective on teenager moods

I'm going with you !!!!! Now I know why my mom said kids should be mummyfied

at 13 and turned loose on their 18th birthday LOL try 15, 17 and 28 (who acts

like 8 most times)..oh and the 38 yo dau's bf who also acvts 8 most times..

I just read a report that eating extra fish, increasing Omega-3, actually can

make you happier.. something to do with increasing gray matter in the parts of

the brain that deals with emotions

http://www.wmconnect.com/whatsnew/default.jsp?story=20070313-1312

.. thought of you when I read it with all you have been saying about

Omegas over the years.. I do know that when I take my fish oils I really do feel

better. Got Dave and the boys taking them too..

Casey

__________________________________________________________

Get your own web address.

Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.

http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL

[Guest guest]

you are so right! there are many days I want to run away!!! Am just feel too

guilty to do it--guess that's how I know this is truly my life.

maria

interesting perspective on teenager moods

In light of recent discussions on teenager behavior, I thought this was an

interesting article that was published Monday in Nature Neuroscience. It doesn't

explain everything about teenagers but it seems to provide some important

concepts to consider about paradoxic hormonal actions during that time frame.

:-)

Chemical reactions in the brain force teenagers' mood swings

Alok Jha, science correspondent

Monday March 12, 2007

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2031771,00.html

They have a reputation for being sulky, uncommunicative and argumentative

little brats. But according to scientists, blaming teenagers for their

tantrums and mood swings is - in the words of the teenager - " just

SO unfair " .

Their petulant behaviour is all down to an unexpected chemical reaction in

their developing brains. Scientists have found that the mechanism normally

used by the brain to calm itself down in stressful situations seems to

work in the opposite way in teenagers, making them even more anxious.

When the brain senses a stressful situation, it reacts by switching on

receptors, using a range of chemicals, including a steroid called THP. In

an adult or even a younger individual, THP would reduce anxiety. But in

experiments on adolescent mice, THP increased anxiety.

The experiments, by Sheryl , a physiologist at the State University

of New York, offer the first physiological explanation for adolescent mood

swings. Previous work has focused on analysing behavioural changes in

teenagers during adolescence. Her results are published today in Nature

Neuroscience.

In teenagers, the behavioural response to the increased anxiety due to THP

would result in even more acute stress, said Prof . How individuals

reacted would depend on their personality - where some people might cry,

others would get angry.

" It could be an emotional reaction and it might be fluctuating too because

it's an amplified reaction to the stress which may not seem the

appropriate reaction to an adult. Yet, for the teenager, they don't have a

whole lot of control. It could be frustrating for the teenager and the

parent. This is a reaction that seems like an over-reaction to the adult,

perhaps. But to the teenager, it is absolutely the only thing they are

able to do. "

Prof said that the paradoxical effect in teenagers' brains can be

explained by the fluctuation in hormones that accompanies this phase of

their lives. She successfully tested this idea by artificially altering

the levels of certain hormones in the brains of her mice.

The social awkwardness of teenagers has been the subject of several

studies in recent years. Scientists have shown that the combination of

having a brain that is not yet fully developed and the hormonal stresses

of puberty can explain much of the infamous behaviour of adolescents.

Scientists at University College London presented research last year

showing that teenagers could not help being sulky because they were still

developing social skills and did not have the full mental hardware to see

the world from someone else's point of view or predict the consequences of

their actions.

[Guest guest]

,

Here's the web sight for the article from another source

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/03/13/health.omega.3.reut/index.html

The study was done by a Dr. Conklin from the Uni of Pittsburg..presented

at the American Psychosomatic Society.. Still trying to find the original

Casey

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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