Study Reveals Why Teenagers Tune Out Their Moms

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It’s a common frustration for parents: you ask your teen to do something, and it’s as if your voice has been muted. A recent study from Stanford University confirms that there’s a scientific reason behind this phenomenon. The research, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, indicates that during adolescence, teens’ brains are wired to pay more attention to unfamiliar voices rather than their parents’—especially their mom’s.

As it turns out, while infants are highly attuned to their mother’s voice, typically around the age of 13, teens begin to shift their focus to new and novel sounds. “Just as an infant learns to tune into her mother’s voice, an adolescent transitions to listening to voices that are outside their family,” said Daniel Abrams, the lead author of the study. This change is part of a natural developmental process.

According to senior author Vinod Menon, this shift is linked to neurobiological changes that encourage teens to engage with the world beyond their immediate family, facilitating social development. When your teen seems to ignore your requests—like reminding them to take out the trash—it’s not just teenage rebellion; their brains are literally prioritizing other voices.

Interestingly, while teens can still recognize their mother’s voice with a 97% accuracy, it doesn’t capture their interest as it once did. It’s all part of growing up, a signal that aids in forming connections outside of the home.

So, the next time you find yourself repeating a request to your teenager, remember: their brains are just evolving, making them more attuned to the world around them, and not simply being disrespectful.

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Summary

Teenagers’ brains are biologically wired to prioritize novel voices over their parents’, especially their mothers’. This shift begins around age 13 and is rooted in the need to engage socially outside of the family. Understanding this can help parents navigate the challenges of communication during adolescence.