Understanding Adolescent Brain Development

What is the main argument Laurence Steinberg makes about adolescent risk-taking in his book "Age of Opportunity"?

• Adolescents should be punished more severely for risk-taking.

• Brain development should be considered when evaluating adolescent risk-taking.

• Adolescents are less likely to take risks than adults.

• Risk-taking is not a natural part of adolescent development.

According to Steinberg and Casey's theory, which brain system is responsible for the rewarding feeling elicited by taking risks?

• Prefrontal cortex

• Limbic system

• Cerebellum

• Brainstem

Explain why adolescents might struggle to inhibit risk-taking behavior according to the dual systems model.

• The prefrontal cortex is fully developed, but the limbic system is not.

• The limbic system is mature, but the prefrontal cortex is still developing.

• Both the limbic system and prefrontal cortex are fully developed.

• Neither the limbic system nor the prefrontal cortex is developed.

What is the 'developmental mismatch' referred to in the dual systems model?

• A mismatch between physical and emotional development.

• A mismatch between the maturity of the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex.

• A mismatch between cognitive and social development.

• A mismatch between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

What evidence did Kate Mills, Anne-Lise Goddings, and their team seek to support the dual systems model?

• Evidence of increased risk-taking in adults.

• Evidence of earlier maturity in the limbic system compared to the prefrontal cortex.

• Evidence of decreased emotional response in adolescents.

• Evidence of increased grey matter in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence.

Discuss the implications of the study's findings on the development of the prefrontal cortex for adolescent behavior.

• The prefrontal cortex matures early, leading to increased risk-taking.

• The prefrontal cortex matures late, contributing to difficulty in inhibiting risk-taking.

• The prefrontal cortex does not change during adolescence.

• The prefrontal cortex matures at the same rate as the limbic system.

What does the dual systems model suggest about adult behavior in comparison to adolescent behavior?

• Adults are more likely to take risks due to an immature prefrontal cortex.

• Adults are better at regulating behavior due to a mature prefrontal cortex.

• Adults and adolescents have similar risk-taking behaviors.

• Adults have a less developed limbic system than adolescents.

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Why was it necessary for the researchers to have participants scanned at least three times in the study?

• To ensure the accuracy of the MRI machine.

• To track the development of brain regions over time.

• To compare the brain development of different age groups.

• To increase the sample size of the study.

What was the role of Kate Mills and Anne-Lise Goddings in the study?

• They were responsible for recruiting participants.

• They analyzed the MRI scans for image quality.

• They developed the dual systems model.

• They funded the research.

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Reread paragraphs 7-8.

When the author states that “adolescents get a kick out of taking risks” (7), he means that these risks result in __________.

• 
  a serious punishment

• a physical pain

• 
  a positive emotion

• a financial boost

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