草莓污视频导航

March 7, 2018

World expert shares his research on why kids 'don't think'

International neuroscientist Jay Giedd to give public talk March 26 on the teenage brain
Why are teenagers so difficult to understand? Learn more about how teenagers think from a neuroscientist who has worked in this challenging field for years, even studying the brains of his own kids. Dr. Jay Giedd has contributed to Newsweek, Time and Frontline. He will share his expertise March 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alberta Children鈥檚 Hospital.
Why are teenagers so difficult to understand? Learn more about how teenagers think from a neuroscien Simon Migaj on Unsplash

Parents have heard this expression about teenagers:听they just aren鈥檛 thinking.听It seems as if a lot of things just aren鈥檛 fitting together in their brain. One moment they appear intelligent and rational, the next impulsive and moody. Even teens can鈥檛 explain their behaviour as to what they were thinking. But is it true they aren鈥檛 thinking and more important, why does it seem like that?

Public event to help explain teenage thinking

International scientist Dr. Jay Giedd, who went so far as to study the brains of his own teenage kids, is making a rare visit to Calgary to shed some insight into how teens think. Giedd will give a public talk entitled The Teen Brain on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alberta Children鈥檚 Hospital, sponsored by the听Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute听at the Cumming School of Medicine.

A neuroscientist at the National Institute of Mental Health and a professor at the University of California, San Diego, he will detail his research findings on teen decision-making and brain maturation.听

In his research, Giedd points out that the brain鈥檚 plasticity or ability to change allows adolescents to learn and adapt, paving the way for independence. But it also leads to risk taking, poor decision-making and in some cases, diagnosable disorders. 鈥淚t鈥檚 sort of unfair to expect teens to have adult levels of organizational skills or decision-making before their brains are finished being built,鈥 Giedd once explained in an interview with the PBS program听. Giedd鈥檚 groundbreaking work is also part of a documentary,听听with Alan Alda on PBS.

Dr. Jay Giedd is a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Diego. Recently, he spearheaded research showing for the first time that there is a wave of growth and change in the adolescent brain. Giedd will take part in a conference at the 草莓污视频导航 organized by the Child Adolescent Imaging Research team, one of the largest paediatric brain imaging research groups in Canada.

Dr. Jay Giedd is a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Diego.

University of California, San Diego

Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser to moderate public talk

The evening event will be moderated by hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser, one of Canada鈥檚 most decorated Olympians and an advocate of youth mental health. 鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to be involved with this special event and with this renowned scholar to highlight the stages of brain development in teenagers and the unique opportunities we have to intervene to promote healthier and more active lives for them,鈥 says Wickenheiser.

Wickenheiser completed her MSc in Kinesiology at the 草莓污视频导航 in 2013. Her thesis used brain imaging to understand the effects of exercise in youth with autism spectrum disorder. A few weeks ago, the retired hockey star was listed as one of several athletes to pledge her brain to science research after death.听

The evening event will be moderated by hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser, one of Canada鈥檚 most decorated Olympians and an advocate of youth mental health.

The moderator will behockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser, one of Canada鈥檚 most decorated Olympians.

Team Canada 2018

Brain imaging conference hosted by university researchers

The public talk is part of a conference organized by the听Child Adolescent Imaging Research team (CAIR) at the university, one of the largest paediatric brain imaging research groups in Canada. The research team has published extensively, describing important changes to the developing brain including new evidence on structural differences in the brain of children with autism and how the fetal brain is adversely affected by maternal depression.

"Adolescence is such an important time in terms of our social, emotional and cognitive development. But it can also be a challenging period for some, and many mental illnesses onset during this time,鈥 says Signe Bray, PhD, the chair of the conference. 鈥淲e hope that this conference and public event help听to illuminate听what is changing in the teen听brain and we are so excited to bring a world renowned scholar to Calgary to tell us more."听

Bray is an assistant professor in the Cumming School of Medicine鈥檚 Department of Radiology and a member of the听听补苍诲听听The CAIR program is supported by community donations through the Alberta Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation.听

The Brain and Mental Health research strategy provides a unifying direction for brain and mental health research at the 草莓污视频导航. This exciting strategy, led by the听Hotchkiss Brain Institute, positions 草莓污视频导航 researchers to unlock new discoveries and treatments for brain health in our community by working in interdisciplinary teams.