Final answer:
The results from various studies suggest that teens are undergoing significant brain development, highlighting increases in white matter and changes in the function of the reward centers related to risk-taking behaviors. This development continues into early adulthood.
Step-by-step explanation:
The McLeon Hospital study referenced appears to be hypothetical in this context, but the provided resources speak broadly about the development of the adolescent brain. According to neuroscientist Jay Giedd, it's unreasonable to expect teen brains to function at adult levels because they are still developing.
Adolescence is characterized by significant neural changes such as synaptic pruning and increased myelination, leading to a more efficient and functional brain.
The development of white matter, as depicted in MRI images, becomes more prominent during this time, which indicates maturation of neural pathways that affect cognition and behavior.
Furthermore, the research by Galvan et al. challenges the notion that adolescents are more impulsive than other age groups and suggests that while risk-taking is associated with neural activity in the reward center of the brain, impulsivity is not necessarily linked to brain activity.
These findings imply that the responsibility for behavioral issues in teens may be more complex than previously thought, considering the ongoing brain development that continues into the early 20s.