During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant development that impacts various cognitive and emotional functions. The left hemisphere, essential for language processing and controlling the right side of the body, contrasts with the right hemisphere, which manages spatial-visual information and emotions.
Differences in making sound decisions about risky behaviors and controlling impulsive behavior
Lateralization
Specailization of the two hemispheres the brain
If a doctor removes one side of the brain, the child will show plasticity, or the brain's tendency to remain adaptable. The child will still be able to function as if the side of the brain that was removed, was still there.
Both sides process functions "differently, but simutaneously."
One hemisphere is more efficient thatn the other in performing certain functions.
Adolescent Development and the Brain
Frontal Lobe
Controls higher-order thinking processes
Matures last
Prefrontal Cortex
As limbic system matures, adolesncents become more responsive to pleasure seeking and emotional stimulation.
Involved with judgment and decision making
Takes more time to develop than the limbic system
Limbic system
Involved with emotions and rewarding/seeking/novelty/risk-taking/sensation-seeking behaviors
Develops early
Subtopic
Temporal Lobe
Do not develop fully until high school years or later
Play roles in emotions, judgement, and language
Right Hemisphere
Handles spatial-visual information and emotions (nonverbal information)