Question

The maturation of the ____ during adolescence lags behind the maturation of _____.

a. systems that are sensitive to reward; systems responsible for self-control
b. systems responsible for self-control; systems that are sensitive to reward
c. systems responsible for synaptic pruning; systems for myelination
d. systems for myelination; systems responsible for synaptic pruning

Answer 1

The maturation of the systems that are sensitive to reward lags behind the maturation of systems responsible for self-control during adolescence. The correct answer is option a.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is a. systems that are sensitive to reward; systems responsible for self-control.

During adolescence, the maturation of the systems that are sensitive to reward lags behind the maturation of the systems responsible for self-control. This means that teenagers often have a heightened sensitivity to rewards and are more prone to seeking immediate gratification, while their ability to regulate their impulses and make decisions based on long-term consequences is still developing.

For example, a teenager may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors like experimenting with drugs or engaging in reckless driving, as the reward-seeking part of their brain is more active, but the self-control part of their brain is not fully mature yet.