Whatever I feel like I wanna do. Gosh!
Posted on 05/19/2005 2:47:49 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
LONDON: The reason behind teenagers' usually gruff reactions to simple requests from their parents - monosyllabic grunts, uncontrolled rage and door slamming - has finally been explained.
Scientists from the US have discovered that the brains of teenagers are not fully developed and lack the ability to multi-task effectively - a skill that continues to develop into late adolescence.
In other words, their outbursts, the archetypal catchphrase like "It's so unfair" are only to be expected, as their brains cannot cope with the competing demands of their parents and social lives, reports the Scottish daily Scotsman.
The research done by scientists at Minnesota University examined the maturation of the frontal cortex - the area of the brain from behind the eyes to just in front of the ears.
This part of the brain controls the ability to think flexibly, control behaviour when confronted with challenging situations and juggle multiple pieces of information.
The researchers put volunteers aged nine to 20 through a series of behavioural tests - such as trying to remember where a dot was on a computer screen and recognise photographs of faces - to assess "working memory".
They were then asked to remember the multiple pieces of information in the correct sequence and finally search for items in a manner requiring a high-level of multi-tasking.
The ability to remember single pieces of information developed until the age of 11 or 12, while the ability to remember multiple facts improved until the age of 13 to 15.
But the ability to carry out complex multi-tasking carried on developing until the age of 16 or 17.
"These findings have important implications for parents and teachers who might expect too much in the way of strategic or self-organised thinking, especially from older teenagers. We need to keep their cognitive limitations in mind," said lead researcher Monica Luciana.
The point at which the frontal lobe of the brain reaches full maturity has been a subject for debate for some time. "It has been speculated that it matures after puberty, based on recent imaging data," Luciana said.
"Our findings lend behavioural support to that work and indicate that the frontal lobe is continuing to develop until late adolescence in a manner that depends upon the complexity of the task," she said.
A long time passing.
Amazingly idiotic find, isn't it?
I mean, if you've seen any teen play some of the very demanding PC games, like Age of Empires, somehow unearthly multi-tasking abilities seem to appear, to the effect of putting a busy CEO to shame.
Yeah, but ask them to take the garbage out when they leave and not only will they forget 5 minutes later, they will walk over the bag at the door and not even notice!
We need to keep their cognitive limitations in mind," said lead researcher Monica Luciana.So, the solution is to talk to your child clearly and slowly: "Oh, sorry, I forgot about your cognitive limitations as a child, again. So, let me put it in a way your little brain can understand: Make ... up ... your ... room!!"
This applies well into adulthood for most liberals.
This ranks right up there with such "stop the presses" headlines as "Scientists Say Men And Women Different" and "Study: Muslim Nations Mostly Anti-American." Believe it or not, I've seen both of those within the past 24 hours. "Duh" magazine must have a new issue coming out.
Easy solution - hop to parents' demands or no social life.
Anybody who believes this study will be sent to his room without supper and then grounded for one whole month.
This part of the brain controls the ability to think flexibly, control behaviour when confronted with challenging situations and juggle multiple pieces of information.
Oh excuse me. You mean that teenagers can send instant messages, talk on their cellphones, watch t.v. and listen to music while simulaneously while doing homework is routine...but can't multi task when it comes to verbal discourse or control behavior? B.S.!!!
Hmmm, I was such a teen over 50 years ago, and my wife now frequently will accuse me of the same fault! Of course, on many occasions I see her mouth moving rapidly, but don't hear what she is saying -- unless she is calling me to dinner. Could it be, I and teens hear what we want to hear.
Parental attention getters tend to make one learn to focus.
Mr. Kennedy, no supper for you tonight. Go to your room. You're grounded for one month.
Well hell, I still can't multi-task. I think it is a word that originally started out as "multi-ask", meaning "one or more bosses will ask you to do one or more things within the same time frame, to the detriment of each task involved."
Whatever I feel like I wanna do. Gosh!
You have to post that picture again. It hasn't appeared yet.
Weird, it was a little red "x" and then I right-clicked the properties and called it up separate and then went back to the post and the pic appeared. Then I refreshed and the "x" came back. Pretty cool trick, I must say. No biggie though, it was just a picture of my favorite brain-dead highschooler, Napoleon Dynamite.
Go back in history and we see that indeed, others at this same stage in age held many positions of responsibility. This whole "teenage" thing is another lefty liberal idea to prolong childhood as long as possible as to avoid responsibility and accountability. When you aim low, you usually hit your mark....
Then again....
maybe not....
http://www.duhmagazine.com/
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