University of Wisconsin - Extension

It¿s the mystery of mysteries¿especially to parents¿the unpredictable

and sometimes incomprehensible whims of the American teenager.

Generations of adults have pondered the causes: Hormones? Rock Music? Boredom? Drugs? Now the experts are exploring the recesses of the brain and finding some new explanations for why adolescents behave the way they do. These discoveries could change the way we parent, teach, or perhaps even understand, teenagers.

Research in neuroscience has demonstrated that a crucial part of the

brain undergoes extensive changes during puberty¿precisely the time when the raging hormones, often blamed for teen behavior, begin to wreak havoc. At 8 p.m. Thursday, January 31, Frontline looks ¿Inside the Teenage Brain.¿

Following Frontline, stay tuned to Wisconsin Public Television's (WPT) half-hour follow-up program where local kids and parents will have a chance to react to the show, express their views and share their personal experiences.

Joining them will be adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Michael Witkovsky and Dr. Leona Schauble, a cognitive developmental and educational psychologist.

One Wisconsin teen comments on her sleeping pattern¿a topic also covered in the Frontline program¿¿I cannot get up in the morning, and when I do, I have major mood swings. I mean, I¿ll be really angry, I don¿t know why, and then next minute, I¿ll be just happy. My mom can tell you it¿s true, trust me.¿

When asked who are the most important people¿friends or parents¿one teen responded, ¿Definitely parents I think because friends come and go but your gonna have your parents forever. So I think it¿s important to establish a strong relationship with them and have a lot of communication. It¿s really important to be able to share your feelings and what you¿re going through, because not everybody lives with you¿so it¿s easier to talk to your parents about some things then it is to talk to your friends.¿

Another girl adds, ¿I know I can trust my mom because she¿outside of the whole Santa Claus thing¿has never really lied to me.¿

Through interviews with scientists, teachers, parents, and young adults,

Frontline investigates whether another cause of adolescent angst is all in their heads¿or more precisely, in their still-forming brains. ¿Scientists are just beginning to unravel potential causes for such stereotypical teen behavior as risk seeking, moodiness, disorganization and excessive sleepiness,¿ says Frontline producer and director Sarah Spinks.

It¿s long been known that the architecture of the brain is largely set in place during the first few years of life. But with the aid of new technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scientists are mapping changes in pre-teen and teenage brains and finding evidence that remarkable growth and change continues for decades.

For a free parent guide, contact WPT's outreach department at 1-800-253-1158 or outreach@wpt.org

WPT is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV/Madison, WPNE-TV/Green Bay, WHRM-TV/Wausau, WLEF-TV/Park Falls, WHLA-TV/La Crosse and WHWC-TV/Menomonie-Eau Claire.