neuroscience

1. Documentary Analysis
STUDENT NAME :
LISA PANCHAL
UID:
21MHY1061
CLASS/SEM:
MASTER’S IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY SEM 2
SUBMITTED TO:
SAMITA SHARMA

2. AIM
• Aim : To analyze the documentary entitled the neuroscience of the
teenage brain - with sarah-jayne blakemore from clinical, social and
biological perspective.

3. Theme of the documentary
Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience
at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College
London, UK, focuses her research on the development of social
cognition and executive function in the typically developing
adolescent brain, using a variety of behavioral and neuroimaging
methods. The TED Talk and commentary featured here offer a
lively introduction to the ways the adolescent brain is different
from the adult brain and a glimpse at how one leading
neuroscientist in the field approaches her work.

4. Diagnosis if any
• No diagnosis

5. Social Causes
• She explained about the term ‘social exclusion’ and how it affects
adolescents . With help of example she explained that if 3 people are
in a game and they can throw ball to the one they like and where only
two people throw ball at each other and play for 2 minutes , the 3rd
person feels excluded and feels left out. Thus, after they conducted
experiment they found out that adolescents are hypersensitive to
social exclusion.
• She mentioned that most of the adolescents engages in social risk
where in they try to accept the risk just to fit in with the peer group
and feel socially included . For example , Try to smoke cigarettes with
peers irrespective of the risk and consequences.

6. Genetic/Biological Causes
• Brain-wise, the most dramatic change during those years
happens to the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain involved
in high level cognitive functions such as decision-making,
planning, social interaction and self-awareness. MRI studies
show that this region undergoes quite dramatic change during
adolescence. In fact, there’s a significant decline in the
prefrontal cortex in adolescence. “That might sound bad, but it’s
really important,” says Blakemore. We should think of it like
pruning a rose bush, she advises. Just as you might prune
away weak branches to ensure the remaining branches stay
strong, the brain is finetuning itself.

7. Psychological Causes (personality, schemas)
• With help of example she explained that if 3 people are in a game and
they can throw ball to the one they like and where only two people
throw ball at each other and play for 2 minutes , the 3rd person feels
excluded and feels left out. Thus, after they conducted experiment
they found out that adolescents are hypersensitive to social exclusion.
• This example indicates how the social exclusion triggers sadness .
• Social exclusion decreases mood and increases anxiety in adolescents.

8. Conclusion (Your take on the documentary)
• Many neuroscience studies have now established that there are
significant changes happening in the brain in adolescence. And the
things that teenagers are often derided for – like their risk taking and
vulnerability to peer pressure – are actually rooted in changes
occurring in the brain.
• Signs of trouble: Depression is serious and, if left untreated, can be
life-threatening. Teen needs guidance, even though they may think
they don't. Understanding their development can help you support
them in becoming independent, responsible adults.