A recent study from the University of California has found that “transcendent thinking” can support the growth of teens’ brains over time.
The study analyzed high school student responses to global teen stories. Adolescents who think about the larger meaning of social situations may experience increased brain growth. This means they can experience stronger identity development and satisfaction in life years later.
But what exactly is transcendent thinking? This type of thinking goes beyond simply reacting to concrete situations. With transcendent thinking, people also consider the broader implications of a situation. This can include thinking about them in the context of historical events and civic significance.
When teens engaged in this type of thinking, many different brain systems coordinated together, such as the executive control network and the default mode network.
Researchers scanned participants multiple times over the course of five years. They found that the more participants engaged in transcendent thinking, the more brain coordination they had.
Neuroscientist Immordino-Yang highlights “the important role teens play in their own brain development through the meaning they make of the social world.”
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