The ups and downs of a teenage brain

Maddi Sunshine
Dr. Boyd
Biology 1-2 Honors
The ups and downs of a teenage brain
Summary:
Teen brains change inside and out including their mental abilities. The researchers found that a person’s IQ may change and regions of the brain may change during a person’s teen years. In 2004 Cathy Price tested the IQ’s of 33 teens who ranged in age from 12 to 16. While they did this they took pictures of their brains. In 2007 and 2008 they returned to the lab and the researchers tested the teens IQs and took more pictures of their brains. After comparing they found that some teens had lost IQ points and some gained. When she looked at the brain scans she found even more. The brains of the teens whose scores had gone up had more gray matter than before in the left motor cortex of their brain, this is involved in speaking.
Critique:
I think that this was an okay article. I think that it was cool though to see that the way that teens interact with others can help their IQ improve.
Impact:
Knowing that people’s IQs may change over the years may not be helpful for the teacher whose students are changing so fast. Scientists don’t know why teen’s brains change so much but this is a great way to learn more about it and to help us advance.
Reference:
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2011/11/the-ups-and-downs-of-a-teenage-brain/