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Brain Development in Adolescence - Anatomy & Physiology

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  • What is the prefrontal cortex responsible for?
    The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions such as planning, impulse control, working with information, task-switching, and making complex decisions.
  • When does the prefrontal cortex fully mature?
    The prefrontal cortex does not fully mature until after puberty and into early adulthood.
  • Why do teenagers struggle with impulse control and complex decisions?
    Because the prefrontal cortex is not fully mature during adolescence, leading to difficulties in impulse control and complex decision-making.
  • What is synaptic pruning and its effect during brain development?
    Synaptic pruning is the removal of unnecessary neural connections, resulting in more efficient neural processing.
  • What is the effect of myelination of prefrontal axons during adolescence?
    Myelination increases the speed of neural signal transmission, enhancing brain communication efficiency.
  • What does distributed processing mean in adolescent brain development?
    It means neural communication becomes more widespread and integrated across different brain regions.
  • How do dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex change during adolescence?
    Dopamine levels are highest in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence, which is linked to increased risk-taking behavior.
  • What role does dopamine play in adolescent brain development?
    Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in reward processing and influences risk-taking behavior in teens.
  • How do dopaminergic neurons affect the adolescent prefrontal cortex?
    Dopaminergic neurons innervate the prefrontal cortex at higher rates during adolescence, contributing to increased risk-taking.
  • List the main executive functions controlled by the prefrontal cortex.
    • Planning for the future
    • Controlling impulses
    • Mentally manipulating information
    • Task-switching
    • Making complex decisions
  • What is the significance of brain changes during the first 30 years of life?
    Brain changes like synaptic pruning, myelination, and distributed processing improve neural efficiency and integration.