Ep 217: Why Your Teen Thinks Differently

Chantel Prat, author of The Neuroscience of You, joins us to talk
about how every brain is unique. We discuss the left and right
brain, how to use psychology to motivate teenagers, and why every
teen has a different way of thinking.





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Full show notes


We all think differently–it's what makes our world so wonderful
to live in. We each have unique opinions, perspectives and ideas
to bring to the table!





We often chalk up these differences to our individual upbringings
or life experiences–but what if there are fundamental structural
differences within each of our brains that change the way we
think? What if our brains aren’t one size fits all?





These are the questions we’re attempting to answer this week in
our interview with Chantel Prat. Chantel is a cognitive
neuroscientist, internationally renowned speaker and professor at
the University of Washington! She’s joining us today to discuss
some powerful ideas from her new book, The Neuroscience of You:
How Every Brain is Different and How to Understand Yours.





In our interview, Chantel and I are breaking down how the left
and right hemispheres of our brains affect our behavior
differently. We’re also discussing why some teens are motivated
by reward, and others by punishment. Plus, how each person’s
brain operates in a unique way and why it matters.





Left Brain vs. Right Brain


You may have heard that the left brain is more analytical, while
the right brain is more creative. While this is an interesting
idea, it’s not totally backed by science, Chantel explains. There
are differences between the function of the two hemispheres, but
they aren’t as simple as one might think. In the episode, Chantel
and I are discussing the existing research about the differences
between the left and right sides of the brain.





One study examined people who lost the tie between the two
hemispheres, meaning that each could be studied individually,
says Chantel. The researchers asked the participants of the study
to draw a picture based on a prompt, and found out that the right
brain is engaged when creating visual interpretations.





However, when people were asked to use their own language to
describe what they’d drawn, they suddenly started to make up
totally new explanations for their images that had nothing to do
with the prompt!





Chantel explains that this phenomenon occurred because the left
brain is responsible not just for generating language but also
for making inferences about causality and justifying our own
behavior. This means there’s often a disconnect between the true
reason for our actions and our conscious justifications for them,
says Chantel.





 In fact, much of our decision making is done within our
subconscious, Chantel explains. This is especially true for
teenagers, whose brains are still developing. When they seem
unable to justify their behavior, it’s likely because they don’t
have the brain mechanisms to do so yet, says Chantel.





While kids can’t always explain their behavior, it’s clear that
they have certain motivations for their actions. Whether it’s the
thrill of winning a homecoming game, the fear of failing a test
or the satisfaction of saving for their first car, each teen has
their own motivating forces. Chantel and I are talking about what
motivates teens and how parents can understand their teens’ own
method of motivation.



What Motivates Teens?


Although motivation is complicated, Chantel explains a basic
spectrum we can use to understand what motivates our kids (and
ourselves). Chantel explains that at one end of the spectrum,
there are “carrot”  learners, who are spurned forward by
rewards. On the other end are “stick” learners, or those who make
decisions based on their desire to avoid negative outcomes. 





You may have heard of the chemical dopamine, and that it plays a
role in happiness. As Chantel explains in the episode, dopamine
is a reward chemical that makes us feel satisfied when we achieve
or obtain something. On the other hand, when we find ourselves
disappointed, we experience what Chantel calls a “dopamine dip”
and receive less dopamine than we expected.





Carrot learners are motivated to seek out dopamine, and learn to
repeat the behaviors that bring it–like eating food, buying
something they’ve had their eye on, or even reaching a lofty
goal. Stick learners, on the other hand, are motivated by the
memories of those dopamine dips, and want to avoid the same
unpleasant feeling they associate with disappointment. Chantel
and I talk about how you can figure out if your teen is a stick
or a carrot learner and what that means for your relationship
with them.





Although we can look at the science of different hemispheres and
motivation styles, each individual’s brain is truly unique,
Chantel explains. In the episode, we’re breaking down why
everyone’s brain operates differently, and how we can help our
kids embrace their own way of thinking.



Why Your Teen’s Brain Is Unique


Chantel finds it frustrating that we often approach neuroscience
with the belief that brains are one-size-fits-all. The truth is
that our brains each have unique ways of interacting with the
world and processing information.





To demonstrate her point, Chantel tells me about some of her
research, in which she monitors participants’ brain activity
while they’re doing nothing. When a brain isn’t given a task,
researchers can measure the frequencies emitted by their brain in
different areas. By measuring these frequencies, Chantel is able
to make interpretations about how each person’s brain works
uniquely.





Particularly, she measures these frequencies as they relate to
long term planning vs. sensitivity to the current environment.
Essentially, Chantel can read how much energy people spend
working towards long term goals, and how much energy is spent
navigating the present. 





Each person’s brain does this differently, she explains,
including teenagers. In the episode, we’re talking about how we
can understand this concept as it applies to our kids, in
educational, social and personal contexts.





In the Episode…





Chantel’s extensive knowledge of the brain is remarkable! On top
of the topics discussed above, we also talk about:


Why we should rethink standardized testing

How parts of our brains become specialized

Why left-handed people think differently

How extroverted people receive stronger dopamine responses



If you enjoyed this week’s episode, you can find more from
Chantel at chantelprat.com. Thanks for listening, and we’ll see
you next week!


Sponsored by Equip: Eating disorder treatment
that works—delivered at home. Visit equip.health/talking for more
information, and a free consultation.