Cognition

The Adolescent Brain

For some teens, it is helpful to understand how the brain functions. Did you know that the human brain does not fully develop until around 25 years old? This means that while teens are being asked to juggle academics, extra-curriculars, and the social pressures of being a teenager, your brains are not fully developed.

While the pleasure-seeking portions of the teen brain are well-developed, the prefrontal cortex is the last part of your brain to mature. The prefrontal cortex is the part of your brain that is responsible for impulse control, managing emotional reactions, planning, and decision-making. This combination of factors may explain why teens are more likely to make risky decisions without considering the long-term consequences– the “go” part of your brain is in full motion and the “stop” part of your brain has not yet been fully turned on.

To learn more about the adolescent brain check out this video produced by UNICEF.