The frontal lobes become fully developed ________.

- [ ] by the end of childhood
- [ ] in late adolescence
- [x] by 25 years old
- [ ] in late adulthood

Completion Age of Frontal Lobe Development Problem

The frontal lobes, which are responsible for planning, reasoning, memory, and impulse control, continue to undergo significant maturation and synaptic pruning throughout adolescence. They do not reach full development and maturity until around 25 years of age.

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The brain continues to develop significantly during adolescence. Up until puberty, brain cells continue to bloom in the frontal region, and this area undergoes maturation that extends into early adulthood. Because the frontal lobes—responsible for judgment, impulse control, and planning—are not yet fully developed, adolescents may exhibit increased risk-taking behaviors and emotional outbursts (Casey, Tottenham, Liston, & Durston, 2005). This ongoing development also explains why, as neuroscientist Jay Giedd notes, it is unreasonable to expect teens to possess adult-level organizational or decision-making skills before their brains are fully constructed.

Frontal Lobe Development During Adolescence

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Jay Giedd is a neuroscientist who has commented on adolescent brain development. He argues that because the teenage brain is not fully constructed, it is unfair to expect adolescents to demonstrate adult levels of organizational skills or decision-making.

Jay Giedd

Given the following scenario, identify the specific brain region whose incomplete maturation is the most likely explanation for the behavior described. Explain your reasoning by linking the region's functions to the actions in the scenario.

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