Skip to main content

What sex ed doesn’t tell you about your brain - Shannon Odell

2,117,792 Views

4,829 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

While we often talk about puberty’s effect on the body, what gets overlooked are the fascinating changes that happen in the brain. Puberty, in fact, begins in the brain, and lasts as long as five years. And during this extended process, the brain undergoes its own transformation, thanks to estrogen and testosterone. Shannon Odell details what we know— and still don’t know— about puberty.

Teens are just as capable as adults of making thoughtful decisions when given the time and space.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Shannon Odell
  • Director Biljana Labović
  • Narrator Alexandra Panzer, Adrian Dannatt
  • Storyboard Artist Wing Luo
  • Animation Supervisor Amarello Rodrigues
  • Lead Animator Murilo Jardim, Marina Veremeienko
  • Art Director Nuri Keli, Vitalii Nebelskyi
  • Illustrator Marina Veremeienko
  • Sound Designer Weston Fonger
  • Composer Weston Fonger
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Alexandra Zubak
  • Associate Producer Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Shannon Odell
  • Science Consultant Jane Mendle , Cheryl L. Sisk

More from Getting Under Our Skin