Molly Webster

So critical periods are great for learning and learning fast. They make us super spongy and absorbent to the world around us. But the fact that they close makes it hard to relearn something we've lost or to unlearn something that's getting in our way. But Gould, in her first lab at Johns Hopkins University, actually uncovered a whole new way of thinking about that problem.

And weirdly, it all comes down to peer pressure.

And weirdly, it all comes down to peer pressure.

And weirdly, it all comes down to peer pressure.

So Ghoul and her team, they get a bunch of mice at all different ages, and they observe them very, very closely. And she basically confirms sort of what we see anecdotally in humans, that teen mice pay attention to their friends more. They learn from their friends more.

So Ghoul and her team, they get a bunch of mice at all different ages, and they observe them very, very closely. And she basically confirms sort of what we see anecdotally in humans, that teen mice pay attention to their friends more. They learn from their friends more.

So Ghoul and her team, they get a bunch of mice at all different ages, and they observe them very, very closely. And she basically confirms sort of what we see anecdotally in humans, that teen mice pay attention to their friends more. They learn from their friends more.

But then they opened the tiny mouse brains, and what they saw is that mice, just like humans, have oxytocin, this sort of feel-good chemical that's released when we're around friends or loved ones. And they saw that the neurons in the teen mouse brains were more susceptible and sensitive to oxytocin. And so it seemed like, oh... This is a biological, neurological, critical period.

But then they opened the tiny mouse brains, and what they saw is that mice, just like humans, have oxytocin, this sort of feel-good chemical that's released when we're around friends or loved ones. And they saw that the neurons in the teen mouse brains were more susceptible and sensitive to oxytocin. And so it seemed like, oh... This is a biological, neurological, critical period.

But then they opened the tiny mouse brains, and what they saw is that mice, just like humans, have oxytocin, this sort of feel-good chemical that's released when we're around friends or loved ones. And they saw that the neurons in the teen mouse brains were more susceptible and sensitive to oxytocin. And so it seemed like, oh... This is a biological, neurological, critical period.

Like it's just not like how long do I have to be deprived? Molly's over here looking at her calendar like, what do I want to fix?

Like it's just not like how long do I have to be deprived? Molly's over here looking at her calendar like, what do I want to fix?

Like it's just not like how long do I have to be deprived? Molly's over here looking at her calendar like, what do I want to fix?

Love a cuddle puddle.

Love a cuddle puddle.

Love a cuddle puddle.

So they go back to the lab, back to the mice, who this time are going to go on a little trip.

So they go back to the lab, back to the mice, who this time are going to go on a little trip.

So they go back to the lab, back to the mice, who this time are going to go on a little trip.

Would you like peek in with like a secret telescope to see what their behavior was like in those two days?