Robert Ziter
Humans go through a stage known as adolescence as they grow from children to adults. Adolescence is a period in a person's life when they experience significant social, environmental, and biological change. The onset of puberty, which usually occurs around the adolescent years, is a critical period in human physical and emotional development. In addition to the more visible bodily changes that occur during this time, an adolescent's brain undergoes changes that are not always visible. Hormones are chemicals that control these changes. Hormones assist our bodies in growing taller, changing shape, and even growing hair. Although hormones affect different parts of the body (such as bones, muscles, or skin), several important hormones for puberty are produced in the brain. Scientists are learning more about how hormones influence how the brain grows and changes, and how this affects how you act and feel.