#32 - How the Teenage Brain Learns: Executive Function, Metacognition and Social Influence with Prof Iroise Dumontheil
Discover what neuroscience reveals about learning, motivation and adolescent development
Academic Coaching for Parents with Dr Anna York-Weaving · Anna York-Weaving
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Show Notes
Why do teenagers sometimes struggle to plan ahead, stay focused or see things from someone else’s point of view? And how can parents support them through these changes?
In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents, I’m joined by Professor Iroise Dumontheil, Professor of Psychology and ARC Future Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Her groundbreaking research explores how the adolescent brain develops - from executive function and working memory to metacognition, social cognition and peer influence, and what this means for learning and education.
🎧 In this conversation, you’ll learn:
✅ What executive function is, how it develops in adolescence and why it matters for school success
✅ Why metacognition - “thinking about thinking” - is a key ability that shapes how teenagers learn and grow
✅ Why maths and science concepts can feel “counterintuitive,” and how the Stop and Think approach helps students master them
✅ How being watched by peers affects teenagers’ performance at school and behaviour
✅ How teenagers develop empathy and perspective-taking, and how parents can nurture this growth at home
This episode is packed with insights from neuroscience to help you understand the teenage brain and practical ways to support your child’s learning, confidence, and wellbeing.
🔗 Links & Resources
Professor Iroise Dumontheil
https://cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/people/affiliated/iroise-dumontheil
https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/1059318-iroise-dumontheil
https://www.linkedin.com/in/iroise-dumontheil-3301362a4/?originalSubdomain=au
https://sites.google.com/site/idcnlab/?pli=1
📩 If you found this episode helpful, share it with another parent or educator, and subscribe for more science-based conversations on learning and student success.
👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching with me? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website: https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/
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