Ginny Smith interviews Dr Catherine Sebastian
The term ‘teenager' is a 20th Century invention, but conceptions of adolescence as a time of emotional upheaval, peer influence and risk-taking can be found throughout history. Recent brain imaging evidence suggests that this might not just be down to ‘hormones', as considerable brain development is still taking place during the teenage years. I will start by describing the changes occurring in the brain during this time, and will then talk about how brain development may influence behaviour. I would like to explore the idea that, while adolescence may be a time of vulnerability to mood and behaviour problems, it is also an exciting opportunity for learning and developing adult capacities. How can we best take advantage of this opportunity?Dr Catherine Sebastian is a Lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is interested in how young people learn to regulate or control their emotions, how brain development may contribute to this process, and how this ability relates to wellbeing and mental health.