An article in National Geographic asks: "Moody. Impulsive. Maddening. Why do teenagers act the way they do?" The article implies that gaining insight into the huge changes in a teenager's brain could help parents understand their children's unpredictable moods and behaviors. It also shows why parents need to provide firm but loving guidance during this critical phase of development.

The article states:

The first series of scans of the developing brain … showed that our brains undergo a massive reorganization between our 12th and 25th year. The brain doesn't actually grow much during this period …. But as we move through adolescence, the brain undergoes extensive remodeling, resembling a network and wiring upgrade.

When this "upgrade" to the brain is finally complete, the entire brain will work much faster. It will also enable young adults to balance impulse, risk, desire, and personal goals. But the article warns:

But at times, especially at first, the brain does this work clumsily. It's hard to get all those new cogs to mesh …. These studies also explain why teens behave with such vexing inconsistency: beguiling at breakfast, disgusting at dinner; masterful on Monday, sleepwalking on Saturday. Along with lacking experience generally, they're still learning to use their brain's new network. Stress, fatigue, or challenges can cause a misfire. [A psychologist who studies teens] calls this neural gawkiness—an equivalent to the physical awkwardness teens sometimes display while mastering their growing bodies.