Why are teenagers more likely to make rash decisions and not be able to control impulses than adults?
(1 point)
All of their organs are growing.
Their hormones slow down their brain.
Their prefrontal cortex is being rewired
Their amygdala has not been developed yet.
Their prefrontal cortex is being rewired.
The correct answer is: Their prefrontal cortex is being rewired.
During adolescence, the prefrontal cortex undergoes significant changes. This is the region of the brain responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and judgment. These structural changes lead to the development of cognitive skills and the ability to control impulses. However, this rewiring process takes time and is not fully completed until early adulthood. As a result, teenagers are more likely to make rash decisions and have difficulty controlling their impulses compared to adults who have a fully developed prefrontal cortex.
The correct answer is: Their prefrontal cortex is being rewired.
During adolescence, the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and reasoning, undergoes significant changes. These changes involve the rewiring and maturation of neural connections in the brain. However, this process is not yet complete, causing teenagers to struggle with impulse control and making more rash decisions compared to adults.
To arrive at this answer, you could eliminate the other options using the following explanations:
1. All of their organs are growing: This option is unrelated to why teenagers are more likely to make rash decisions and lack impulse control. Although growth and development occur during adolescence, it does not directly contribute to impulsivity.
2. Their hormones slow down their brain: While hormonal changes are a characteristic of adolescence, they do not slow down the brain. In fact, hormones play essential roles in various aspects of development but are not the primary cause of teenage impulsivity.
3. Their amygdala has not been developed yet: The amygdala, which is involved in emotional responses, does develop during adolescence. However, it is not the key factor in impulsivity. The prefrontal cortex, which plays a more significant role in decision-making, is the main area of the brain responsible for impulsivity in teenagers.
Therefore, by process of elimination, the correct answer is that during adolescence, the prefrontal cortex is being rewired.