Abstract

This comprehensive yet brief overview of the adolescent human brain discusses how the brain develops during this critical period of life and how that development impacts decision-making and risk-taking behavior in the adolescent.

• This originated as a white paper requested by the Canadian government for a specific group looking to understand adolescent brain development in the context of adolescent behaviour
• The paper was not made available to the Canadian government outside of the specific task force that requested it nor to the general public

"...provides an important overview of the development of the brain during adolescence…Aimed at health care practitioners, parents, college students, and more, this overview links research to real-world issues and questions in the field." --Journal of Youth and Adolescence

"Aimed at healthcare practitioners, community workers, college students, and parents, this volume summarizes the research literature on the adolescent brain and implications for social and emotional behavior, with the goal of providing an accessible overview that links research to real-world issues and controversies in the field." --Reference and Research Book News, December 2012