On the latest episode of CaseyCast, Foundation President and CEO Lisa Lawson talks with UCLA psychology professor Adriana Galván, whose pioneering research on the adolescent brain has shaped how policymakers, educators and youth-serving systems understand this critical stage of development.
Galván — dean of undergraduate education at UCLA, director of the Developmental Neuroscience Lab and co-lead of the Center for the Developing Adolescent — has helped redefine adolescence as a decade-long period of growth that is as rich in opportunity as it is vulnerable to risk. Her work provided the scientific foundation for Lawson’s new book, Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children.
Key Themes From the Conversation
- Adolescence as a uniquely human strength: Galván and Lawson note that humans have the longest adolescence of any species — more than a decade of brain development designed to prepare young people for adulthood.
- Risk as exploration, not recklessness: What adults may label as impulsive behavior is often healthy curiosity and exploration — traits that help young people form identities, build skills and take the risks that lead to opportunity.
- The impact of stress and adversity: Chronic stress reshapes the adolescent brain, making it harder for young people to focus on learning and relationships. Systems must provide scaffolding to help youth facing adversity navigate the “bridge” to adulthood.
- Sleep as a public policy issue: From school start times to family routines, sleep has outsized effects on adolescent well-being, safety and academic success.
- Aligning systems with brain science: Whether in education, child welfare or justice, systems that recognize how adolescents learn and are motivated can achieve better results. Galván points to rewards-based approaches in the justice system and later school start times as examples.
- The power of permanent connections: Despite appearances, young people remain deeply influenced by caring adults. Stable, supportive relationships are essential buffers against adversity and keys to resilience.