Question

Adolescents often have difficulty controlling their emotions and making sound decisions about risky behavior. Brain research suggests that this is due to the fact that during adolescence,

a) The prefrontal cortex is fully developed.
b) The limbic system is inactive.
c) Synaptic pruning occurs.
d) Myelination of neurons is complete.

Answer 1

The difficulties adolescents face with emotional control and decision-making are due to the ongoing development of the prefrontal cortex, which is not fully mature until around age 25.

Step-by-step explanation:

Adolescents often struggle with emotional regulation and decision-making because their brains, specifically the prefrontal cortex, are still developing. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for judgment, impulse control, and planning, continues to mature into early adulthood.

The process of development includes synaptic pruning, where unnecessary neural pathways are eliminated, and myelination, which enhances the efficiency of neural communication. This maturation plays a crucial role in adolescents' ability to make sound decisions and control risky behavior, and it is not complete until around the age of 25.