Main description:

Contemporary neuroscience has made remarkable strides in our understanding of the developing adolescent brain-an area of study previously reserved for developmental psychologists and pediatric endocrinologists. With an eye toward the history and future of the field, Coming of Age takes a look at the research that brought about this paradigm shift. Current advances in neuroscience have changed the way we think about everything-from how drugs and stress
influence adolescent development to how hormones cause differing developmental trajectories among females and males.

Sisk and Romeo guide students and non-specialist researchers alike through the basic science of brain and behavioral development. Important social and ethical questions are raised including: Why does puberty continue to occur at a younger age? Why does teenage behavior embrace risk and volatility? When does adolescent development end? And how should our understanding of adolescent development affect the juvenile justice system?

Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Puberty: It Started with a Little Kiss...
Chapter 3 Remodeling the Adolescent Brain: What's in the Tool Box?
Chapter 4 Remodeling the Adolescent Brain: From Local to Global
Chapter 5 Executive Function: What Were You Thinking?
Chapter 6 Puberty, Hormones, and the Social Brain
Chapter 7 Stress and the Adolescent Brain: The Perfect Storm
Chapter 8 Drugs and the Adolescent Brain: Eggs Anyone?
Chapter 9 Puberty and Adolescence in a Life-Span Context