The Adolescent Brain: Neurocognitive Risks and Educational Opportunities

Martha S. Burns^1,2* & Logan De Ley¹

¹Carnegie Learning, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
²Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, USA

Dr. Martha S. Burns, Carnegie Learning, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Keywords: Brain; Neuroscience

Abstract

This review of adolescent brain neurobiological and cognitive development begins with a summary of current research on adolescent structure-function development. The aim is to summarize the current research on how neuroanatomical changes relate to cognitive function, and which cognitive factors may contribute to academic struggle and associated social/emotional or behavioral issues. The neuroscience review is followed by a description of intervention research including physical exercise, computerized cognitive training, and digital educational programs that have been shown, through independent review, to demonstrate positive educational, cognitive and/or social-emotional outcomes. The review concludes with promising educational initiatives and directions for further investigation.

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. (CC BY 4.0).