How risk-taking changes a teenager's brain | Kashfia Rahman

Why do teenagers sometimes make outrageous, risky choices? Do they suddenly become reckless, or are they just going through a natural phase? To find out, Kashfia Rahman -- winner of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (and a Harvard freshman) -- designed and conducted an experiment to test how high school students respond to and get used to risk, and how it changes their still-developing brains. What she discovered about risk and decision-making could change how we think about why teens do what they do.

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[michaelpisciarino]

0:13 Teenagers
0:54 Why do they take risks?
1:38 Is it a phase? Underlying Causes?
2:19 Habituation, “Getting used to it”
3:18 An obstacle, we need teens to do this experiment
4:07 What drove Kashfia to do this experiment
4:45 Setting Up The Experiment
5:43 Computerized simulation
6:28 29 Days Later... The Results 6:51
8:23 The Impact of these results
9:48 She won 1st place.
10:33 Inspiration.

[mammajamma]

Wow, she's a great public speaker! Better than a lot of other Ted speakers... Great tone, storytelling, timing... 👏👏👏

[davescruton]

People with disabling fear issues often are caused by parents not allowing their kids to take risks. Very well known you need to expose people to the risks they fear willingly. So they can overcome them. Nothing new here but a great experiment and dedication, keep it up young lady.

[TheCaribSpice]

I remember Kashfia from the movie/documentary "Science Fair." There are some amazing kids doing some amazing things out there!

[coachbahman]

This the proof that you shape your own brain and design your own reality!

[donovanstanton]

She has incredible skin. Also love how you're one of the few who has a question and follows through with finding the answer.

[VanishingDinosYehTeeHee]

Thanks mom and dad for not letting me do stuff that was considered normal for growing up. I'm cynical af and have high anxiety. ;/

[nokoolaid]

Risky behavior isn't all bad. It depends on what someone learns from it. Someone that never takes risks lives in a very sheltered world and probably will be ineffective in dealing with certain things. To put it another way, there's an evolutionary reason why risky behavior happens and what is considered negative or positive has some gray areas based on one's cultural biases.

[Jule-mmdr]

so inspiring 👍👍👍 this girl has such a great way of expressing

[fileflies]

Without comparing her data on teens to other age groups, it’s hard to accept her findings as being unique to teens. Common sense would suggest that ‘habituation’ would also occur for adults to some degree. The difference between the age groups will illuminate what is special about the teenage brain. Hopefully she can continue to refine her project with more data.

[patty]

You know if you dont test out your limits, how do you wanna know when you cross a line? Questions like these quite literaly tell you EXACTLY how a person is thinking... even if you sometimes have to ask weird question like "what if he just enjoys doing bad things?"

[spencerarnot]

Hint: It changes an adults brain too 😉

[UnluckyBro-]

Didn’t study for Math exam. Lemme take this risk!

[ducksauce]

Wow, very well presented by such a young lass. Good talk, interesting topic, glad that Kashfia embraced her curiosity.

[mounirhouache]

It's all about taking risks guys..but to buy a head electrical thing instead of iPhone..oh man i can't take that risk...totaly worth it👏👏

[foowing]

Nurture or Nature?? We try to control nature and create environments that are harmful rather than beneficial. Education is good but only if people have access to learn and practice the things they love and are natural at doing. But we rather pigeon hole people and force people into doing and learning things they don't want to do. But they are taught to be obedient and to follow their peers even if these peers are not the ones they should be following. Restriction of people's moments and thoughts is the same as a life prison sentence of the mind.

[CMA-hepe]

I loved this talk ! This girl is a true inspiration, her love for science and research, her creativity and determination, and her curiosity... Keep it up! As a Muslim I am happy that you were able to overcome the obstacle of stereotypes and be who you want to be!

[lydia]

“When I was sixteen...”

Wait how old r u

[brianbodenhamer]

That was a well spoken authentic talk.. loved it. congrats to this young lady.
for her entrepreneur spirit and taking the time and effort to answer her why

[ayman-hosny]

I've translated this video into Arabic for TED talks, hoping to be useful for all Arabic speakers and others who are interested in.