Media's Influence on the Teenage Brain

(You Won't Believe It!)

The teenage brain is the 8th wonder of the world to me. As a pediatrician who gets to talk to a lot of teens, I enjoy teasing back the sheers which cover their brains and peek inside. The thoughts I find therein are mysterious and terrifying.

As a physician who loves teenagers, I have had to do a lot of self teaching because the medical community's understanding of the teenage brain has gained a lot of ground over the past decade. I was thrilled to interview with Dr. David Walsh, author of Why Do They Act That Way? recently on BAMradionetwork. Not only is Dr. Walsh an expert on the neuroanatomy of the teenage brain, but he has the ability to decipher relatively complex processes into very understandable language.

Specifically, he elucidated the potent impact that media has on how our kids think and behave. I will admit that media's impact on my kids and patients frightens me, but with the guidance of Dr Walsh, I feel more confident as a mom and as a pediatrician. He gave sobering information about the negative effects that media has on our kids, but more importantly, he gave solid, encouraging advice regarding what everyone of us parents can do to help our kids. And that feels really, really good. This is a show that you can't afford to pass by. Here is the link:

· 3 Powerful Ways Media Impacts Teenage Minds: http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl… ckstreet54&catid=68:jackstreet54&Itemid=143