Brain Biology
This "Control Tower" right behind your forehead helps you think things through, plan ahead, and control your impulses.
What is the Prefrontal Cortex?
A specific situation, sensory cue, or event that automatically sets off an emotional reaction.
What is an Emotional Trigger?
This natural hormone regulates your sleep and wake cycles, and your brain stops making it if you look at screens late at night.
What is Melatonin?
Important beliefs and ideas—like honesty, kindness, and fairness—that guide your daily choices and actions.
What are Core Values?
These chemical messengers travel through your body to trigger rapid height spurts, voice changes, and muscle growth.
What are Hormones?
This small part deep inside your brain acts as an emotional alarm system, handling fear, excitement, and quick reactions.
What is the Amygdala?
This happens when your emotions take over and you react quickly before the thinking part of your brain can catch up.
What is an Amygdala Hijack?
Wanting things that feel good right now, rather than thinking about what might happen later in the future.
What is Instant Gratification?
The emotional level of value, respect, and confidence you feel toward yourself.
What is Self-Esteem?
This pea-sized "master gland" located at the base of the brain starts the puberty process.
What is the Pituitary Gland?
This chemical makes things feel exciting and fun, but it can also make middle schoolers more tempted to take risks.
What is Dopamine?
Taking three deep breaths to calm your body down before speaking in front of the class is an example of this.
What is Somatic Relaxation?
This 4-step decision-making framework helps you pause, identify options, and filter choices through Safety, Respect, and Goals.
What is S.T.O.P. & THINK?
Treating yourself as kindly as you would treat a good friend when you make a mistake or feel upset.
What is Self-Compassion?
During puberty, these skin glands produce extra oil, which can block pores and cause acne.
What are Sebaceous Glands?
This is the process where a fatty coating covers brain cells like rubber around a wire, helping messages travel faster.
What is Myelination?
Changing a negative thought like "I fail at everything" into a helpful one like "I made a mistake, but I can learn from it."
What is Cognitive Reframing?
When you exercise, your brain releases these natural mood elevators and pain relievers.
What are Endorphins?
This trait means you can bounce back and learn from tough times instead of giving up.
What is Resilience?
When bacteria mix with the thick sweat from these specific glands in the underarms and groin, it causes body odor.
What are Apocrine Sweat Glands?
The "use-it-or-lose-it" process where the brain gets rid of unused connections and strengthens the ones you practice.
What is Synaptic Pruning?
Shallow breathing, a rapid heartbeat, and butterflies in your stomach are physical clues of this specific emotion.
What is Anxiety (or Worry)?
Complex carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats belong to this category of nutrients that provide physical energy.
What are Macronutrients?
The descriptive mental picture of your traits, appearance, and abilities.
What is Self-Image?
This is the name of the system made up of a group of glands that send out chemicals to help your body grow.
What is the Endocrine System?