Scientists unravel the mysteries of the teenage brain He believes the scans of the young people being examined will show gradual changes in the white matter of their brains as it starts to bring under control the impulses caused by hormones. More adult behaviour is expected to result from the brain changes observed. Dr Becky Inkster, another of the scientists working on the study, added: "Arguably we've all been there and it's a very awkward and complex and confusing time of life. So to be able to express oneself is quite difficult. So by the use of imaging and other tools we can really tap into these features of the adolescent brain and understand how they develop over time as they become a young adult. The psychiatrists also hope to identify whether psychotic disorders could be caused by abnormal brain development in adolescence. It is hoped this may help alter the perception of mental illness in young people as a "moral problem" or "random disaster," Prof Bullmore said. He believes it may even be possible in the future to speed up the process of maturing in a teenage brain, for example by developing computerised games or other methods of training to help young people develop more adult cognitive skills faster.