Final answer:
Adolescents' frontal lobes are not fully developed until around the age of 25, with cognitive development continuing into the early 20s, affecting decision-making and impulse control.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research indicates that the frontal lobes of young drivers' brains continue developing and may not be fully developed until the age of 25 years old. During adolescence and into emerging adulthood, there are significant changes in brain structure, including synaptic pruning and increased myelination, which contributes to a more efficient and functional brain. Cognitive development, such as the capacity for insight and judgment, continues to evolve through experience well into the early 20s.
Adolescents demonstrate comparable levels of attention, memory, processing speed, and organization to adults by around age 15, but the full maturation of the brain, particularly in areas responsible for decision-making and impulse control, extends into the mid-twenties. This progression is part of a broader neurodevelopmental journey that leads into the stage known as emerging adulthood, characterized by ongoing identity exploration and development.