Final answer:
The corpus callosum, a thick band of neural fibers, thickens in adolescence and aids in the brain's processing of information by connecting the left and right hemispheres.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structure that thickens in adolescence, enhancing the ability of adolescents to process information, is the corpus callosum. This critical part of the brain is a thick band of neural fibers that connects the brain's left and right hemispheres. The corpus callosum consists of about 200 million axons, facilitating communication between the two hemispheres and allowing for the transfer of information processed on one side to be shared with the other.
During adolescence, significant cognitive development occurs, and changes within the cerebral cortex are crucial to this process. The prefrontal cortex (PFC), which orchestrates executive functions such as decision making and impulse control, continues to mature throughout this period. As such, the corpus callosum plays a vital role in enabling efficient cognitive function and higher-order thinking skills.