Juliet Gardiner presents an audience discussion from The Sage Gateshead in which neuro-scientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore discusses dramatic changes in the teenage brain.

Neuro-scientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore gives a talk on changes in the teenage brain.

Teenagers often act on impulse, are lazy, emotional and get into trouble with the police and parents. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London and a leading expert on teenage brains. Using recent research about the radical changes taking place in the adolescent brain, she argues it's time to rethink our attitudes towards youth and the place of teenagers in society.

Recorded in front of a live audience at The Sage Gateshead, at the BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival 2011. Presented by Juliet Gardiner.