Intervention Principles and Practice Guidelines for - Underage ...

Exhibit 2: Brain Basics
Source: Gogtay et al. (2004)
beginning of puberty, but external factors, such as nutrition, stress, and exercise levels, may also affect
this internal timing device.
A holistic view of adolescent development, such as that depicted by the ecological model in Exhibit
2, is important. It is important to understand the fundamentals of brain structure and functioning to
recognize how alcohol affects the brain and, therefore, adolescent behavior and development. The
brain continues to develop during adolescence. Brain structures and development affect the ability
of young people to think and reason and their emotional responses to situations. Various factors
influence a youth’s development and behavior. Those who work with youth must consider this array of
factors, implement approaches that encourage positive development, and apply strategies to change
inappropriate behavior. Thus, preventing or changing problem behaviors may require interventions
at the family, neighborhood, community, and societal levels, in addition to interventions targeted to
individuals.
The human brain, which weighs about three pounds, contains more than 10 billion neurons and 100
billion other cells. It is the most complex part of the human body. The brain controls body movements
and behavior in, interpret messages from the senses here, and is the seat of intellect (National Institute
of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, n.d.; Weinberger, Elvevag, & Giedd, 2005).
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