Decoding Boys: New Science Behind the Subtle Art of Raising Sons

by Cara Natterson

The delayed maturation of the prefrontal cortex compared with the limbic system isn’t all bad. Many evolutionary biologists and sociologists believe that having a brain ruled by the limbic system confers great benefits. Tweens and teens are willing and able to take risks that many adults cannot. I am not talking about foolish risks that create obvious danger, but rather the openness to try something new, to explore, to invent, to discover. Put this in the context of a brain that is growing and pruning, and it is easy to see how the young brain craves new information and can learn more, faster. Our kids are highly motivated, able to retain new knowledge, and wired to push boundaries because their brains are both flexible and absorbent. Just consider the modern-day example of the classic tech company founder—a twentysomething with a still-dominant limbic system—and you have a perfect example of how this combination has profoundly affected the human experience.

The whole point of understanding myelination in the context of brain maturation is to be able to reconcile why our smart kids can sometimes make dumb decisions. Once we do, we will realize there are parenting steps we can take to outsmart the hardwiring, minimizing the risk and maximizing the upside of this temporary anatomy.