Sex and a Single Brain Cell

The human brain is crucial for human life. Although there is still much to learn about the brain, there is also many facts that have been determined. For example, research has found that the back of the brain develops faster than the front of the brain (Wallis). Also, the prefrontal cortex, which is located in the front part of the cranium, has been found to be the part of the brain that deals with decision making and setting priorities (Baumgardner). Throughout childhood and adolescence, the development of the brain can be altered by various experiences. Every person is bound to make mistakes throughout his or her life, however the consequences of certain mistakes may be everlasting. Sexual intercoure during adolesence, for example, is being examined to determine if it has a negative, if any, effect on the development of the human brain. Because the brain is not fully formed in the area that helps a person make good decisions in risky situations until about age twenty-five, a person under the age of about twenty-five should not have sexual intercourse without knowing what consequences might occur.

Ongoing research suggests that sexual intercourse during the adolescent years may have a negative effect on the brain’s development. According to Julie Baumgardner, “research indicates that multiple partners can damage an individual’s ability to develop healthy... relationships” (Baumgardner). Similarly, multiple sex partners may also lead to a drop in grades at school (Preidt). Julie Baumgardner also expresses her concerns of a possible correlation between teenage sex and depression (Baumgardner). Mrs. Baumgardner further explains that teenagers who have had sex are almost three times more at risk to develop depression than teenage...

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... along with future underlying relationship problems or emotional baggage (Baumgardner). On the contrary, research concluding that sexual intercourse during adolescent years has not been proven to be accurate and there are some benefits of sex, like for instance to relieve stress (Scott).

Works Cited

Abbasi, Jennifer. "Teen Sex May Affect Brain Development, Study Suggests." . LiveScience, 1 Dec. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <>.

Baumgardner, Julie. "The Brain and Teen Sex." . First Things First, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <>.

“Inside the Teenage Brain.” Frontline. PBS, 2004. DVD.

Kallen, Derek. Personal Interview. 25 April. 2014.

Preidt, Robert. "How Teen Sex Affects Education." . HealthDay, 15 Aug. 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <>.

Scott, Brandon. Personal Interview. 25 April. 2014.

Wallis, Claudia. "What Makes Teens Tick." Time 10 May 2004: n. pag. Print.