Adolescent Brain Development Quiz

What is the main argument of Laurence Steinberg regarding adolescent risk-taking?

• Adolescents should be held fully responsible for their actions.

• Brain development affects adolescent decision-making and risk-taking.

• Risk-taking is a learned behavior from peers.

• Adolescents take risks because they lack intelligence.

According to Steinberg’s research, what part of the brain is responsible for stopping impulsive behavior?

• The limbic system

• The amygdala

• The prefrontal cortex

• The nucleus accumbens

What is the ‘dual systems model’?

• A model explaining how different brain functions develop simultaneously (at the same time).

• A theory stating that the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex develop at different rates.

• A method used to scan the brain for abnormalities.

• A way of categorizing adolescent decision-making styles.

What is the BEST, biological reason adolescents often take more risks than adults?

• They are unaware of the consequences of their actions.

• Their limbic system matures earlier, making risk-taking feel rewarding, while their prefrontal cortex is not yet fully developed.

• They are influenced by peer pressure more than adults.

• Their memory is not yet fully developed.

What method did the researchers use to study brain development?

• Dissecting the brains of deceased individuals.

• Conducting behavioral surveys.

• Analyzing MRI brain scans over time.

• Observing adolescent behavior in social settings.

What did the research find out about the volume of gray matter as the brain matures?

• The limbic system grows in size while the prefrontal cortex gets smaller.

• The entire brain stops changing significantly after age 14.

• The brain decreases in size over time.

• All parts of the brain develop and grow at the same rate.

How many usable, high-quality MRI scans did the researchers obtain?

• 198

• 5

• 33

• 4,742

What challenge did researchers face when using MRI scans for this study?

• The scans were too expensive to conduct frequently.

• Many scans lacked high-quality images of the limbic system.

• Participants were unwilling to undergo multiple scans.

• MRI technology could not detect changes in grey matter.

What does the word "protracted" most likely mean?

The prefrontal cortex undergoes substantial and protracted change during adolescence.

• Extended over time

• Sudden and brief

• Unpredictable

• Reversible

Which statement best summarizes the findings of the brain development study?

• The limbic system and the prefrontal cortex develop at the same rate.

• The prefrontal cortex continues to change significantly into early adulthood, while the limbic system matures earlier.

• Adolescents have fully developed brains but choose to take risks anyway.

• The nucleus accumbens is more responsible for decision-making than the prefrontal cortex.