You might worry that difficult experiences during adolescence could affect your teen for years to come. And while this can sometimes be the case, fortunately, the teenage brain isn’t fixed. It’s constantly learning, adapting, and changing in response to experiences. Plus, when their environment is supportive, this change is likely to be positive.
This ability to change is known as “brain plasticity.” Understanding brain plasticity in adolescence can offer hope for the future when your teen is going through challenging times. This article can help you better understand brain plasticity and what it means for recovery by exploring:
In your brain, there are billions of specialized cells called “neurons.”[1] These cells communicate with each other, helping you:
Brain plasticity, also known as “neuroplasticity,” is the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to what you learn and your experiences.[2] This can include strengthening or weakening connections between teen brain cells and, in some areas, creating new connections.
Imagine your brain as having lots of pathways connecting different places. The more you use a pathway, the clearer and easier the route becomes to travel – it becomes stronger. But when you stop using a pathway for a long time, it may become weaker.
For example, if your teen practices the guitar regularly, the brain can strengthen the connections involved in playing it. At the same time, connections that are rarely used may become weakened. This is often what is meant by the phrase, “Use it or lose it.”
The brain’s ability to adapt is part of what allows teenagers to learn new things and develop new skills.
The teenage years are a time of significant brain development, not just physical growth. In fact, adolescence is sometimes described as a “second window of opportunity” for brain development, with the first window happening in early childhood.[3] It’s also a time of great emotional and cognitive development, in which neuroplasticity plays a key role.[4]
But why is neuroplasticity so important for adolescent brain development?
During adolescence, the brain strengthens some of the most frequently used connections while weakening others. This helps different areas of the brain communicate more efficiently.[5]
Your teen is learning far more than just school subjects. They’re also:
Neuroplasticity is what allows the brain to adapt as they practice these core skills.[4]
The areas of the brain responsible for feeling emotions often develop earlier than the prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain involved in managing:
As your teen gains more experience in these areas, their brain can strengthen the connections used for recognizing strong emotions, pausing, and deciding how to respond, rather than acting on impulse.[6]
The brain is partly shaped by a young person’s experiences. For example, supportive relationships and learning opportunities provide the brain with information to help it develop.[7]
However, brain plasticity during adolescence can also be shaped by difficult experiences. This is one of the reasons chronic stress or trauma may have such a significant impact on a teen’s mental health.[7]
But plasticity also means that change is possible. So, if a young person’s circumstances improve and they have opportunities to feel safe, learn, and connect with others, their brain can adapt to those experiences instead.
You may hear people talk about “brain rewiring” when discussing recovery from mental health conditions. Often, what they’re referring to is the brain’s ability to adapt and form new patterns through neuroplasticity.
Experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, prolonged stress, or other mental health challenges during adolescence doesn’t mean your teen’s brain will always respond in the same way. It may simply have been adapting to what they were experiencing.
For example: Imagine your teen has been under a lot of pressure for months. Maybe they’re:
To help them stay safe and keep on top of things, their brain might become very good at noticing possible threats, like thinking:
If these thought patterns are repeated often, the brain connections involved could become stronger and keep responding in the same way, with a seemingly endless stream of worries. This is neuroplasticity at work.
But the brain can learn new routes, too.
A young person can develop different patterns and strengthen more helpful connections through new experiences, including:
This doesn’t mean recovery is automatic, or that mental health difficulties can be “rewired away.”
But it does mean that development isn’t finished. Thanks to brain plasticity, adolescence remains a time when your teen can:[2]
Mission Prep is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
You might be wondering whether talking therapy can actually change the brain. The answer to this tends to be a little more complex than a simple “yes” or “no.”
Therapy isn’t only about talking through what’s happened. Depending on the approach, your teen might also practice:
Practicing new skills, including those developed in therapy, is one way to support learning and helpful change. Neuroplasticity means new connections may develop in the brain, the areas responsible for emotional regulation might strengthen, and the emotional alarm system may settle as it feels safer. In this sense, through therapy, brain changes could happen over time.
Plus, research suggests that psychotherapy can be associated with measurable changes in brain activity and – in some studies – brain structure, using learning and memory processes to form new neural pathways.[8] For example, studies of approaches such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have found changes in brain activity in people experiencing difficulties such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[9][10]
This also means a teen doesn’t need to wait until their brain is fully developed before mental health treatment can help. The developing brain is able to learn and adapt throughout adolescence.
What’s more, there are ways that parents can support their teen’s brain development during this crucial period, which we cover next.
Brain plasticity means adolescence is a valuable time to offer support and positive experiences. Giving your teen opportunities to learn, practice new skills, and experience supportive relationships can all help their developing brain learn and grow.
If you’re wondering how you can support your teen’s brain during adolescence, you might find the following suggestions helpful:
Parents don’t need to create a “perfect” environment for their teen to develop well. Consistent support, connection, and access to appropriate help can make a real difference.
Mission Prep provides treatment for teens experiencing various mental health conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-901-4047 to learn about your treatment options.
See our residences in Southern California’s Los Angeles & San Diego areas.
View our facilities in Loudoun County, VA within the DC metro area.
Your teen’s brain is still learning and changing, which means difficult experiences don’t have to define their future. Brain plasticity gives young people opportunities to develop new skills, build resilience, and find different ways of responding to challenges.
You don’t have to get everything right as a parent, either. Small things like providing a safe and supportive relationship, encouraging healthy routines, and helping your teen access the right support can all make a difference.
At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we offer a variety of treatment programs and therapy services to support teens who are experiencing a range of mental health challenges. Our evidence-based residential and outpatient adolescent mental health programs are tailored to each adolescent’s needs, helping them build the emotional resilience and healthy coping skills that are essential as they move towards adulthood.
Whether your teen could benefit from in-person treatment at one of our locations, or something more flexible like virtual telehealth, our team can help. Mission Prep Teen Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major providers. We are happy to help you check your insurance coverage for mental health care.
Contact us online or call 866-901-4047 to speak with a caring member of our team who can answer any questions you might have. Reach out for a free, confidential consultation and find out how we can support your family.
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Adolescent brain plasticity can be a complex topic, so to help increase understanding, we’ve provided some answers to FAQs on the topic.
When discovering more about adolescent brain plasticity, you might come across the term “synaptic pruning.” Synaptic pruning ties into the concept of “use it or lose it” that we discussed earlier on this page.
It simply means that neurons that are used are strengthened, while those that are not are weakened, or “pruned” away. This process helps make brain development during the teenage years more efficient.
Yes, it can. Elements of a teenager’s surroundings, such as their social network, school setting, hobbies, and learning opportunities, can impact plasticity.
When the environment is positive, this can impact plasticity in beneficial ways. However, stressful or negative experiences can harm development.
Changing brain plasticity during adolescence can impact decision-making, emotional regulation, motivation, and social actions. Therefore, it’s normal to notice behavioral changes during this time.
However, if negative shifts in mood and behavior are consistent and persist for long periods of time, it may be wise to seek professional advice.
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