While we recognize that at a fundamental level friends are important, there is increasing scientific evidence and research about why they are necessary. Learn more about the importance of friends and how they relate to the brain and learning. Want to know more about how and why humans seem to sync up with each other when physically or emotionally close to one another? Check out this fascinating article. 

Theory of Mind, the ability to infer other people’s thoughts, desires, and beliefs, and understand that they can be different from your own, is essential to humans survival and success in the world. Learn more about Theory of Mind with this video. Related to this is the idea that humans, from a very young age, can see emotions in people’s faces. Find out more here. 

NPR wrote an article that summarized a study published in Child Development about how forming strong relationships in adolescence can have long-lasting positive effects well into our adult lives. 
And finally, for an absolutely fascinating talk about the inner workings of the adolescent brain, and the methods used to research them, watch this TEDTalk given by Sarah-Jayne Blakemore.