Neuroimaging for Solving Mysteries of the Teenage Brain

Cognition and motivation specialize into the adolescent period, when risk-taking increases mortality and major psychopathology emerges. Innovative neuroimaging methods are revealing changes in adolescent brain functions that link to previously unknown organization of functional and structural connectivity. Studies support a new model of the maturing adolescent brain, revealing that the adult level of executive control of cognitive functions is greatly influenced by enhancing motivation systems.