This is thoroughly answered here. Similarly, you may ask, what part of the brain develops first?
The brain develops in a specific sequence, from the most basic parts to the most complex ones. The brain stem begins developing first, followed by the cerebellum, the limbic system, and finally the cerebral cortex. The fact that the limbic system develops before the cortex is important.
Similarly, how developed is a 16 year old brain? Good judgment isn't something they can excel in, at least not yet. The rational part of a teen's brain isn't fully developed and won't be until age 25 or so. In fact, recent research has found that adult and teen brains work differently. Adults think with the prefrontal cortex, the brain's rational part.
Consequently, what happens to the prefrontal cortex during adolescence?
As the prefrontal cortex matures, teenagers can reason better, develop more control over impulses and make judgments better. The second wave of synapse formation described by Giedd showed a spurt of growth in the frontal cortex just before puberty (age 11 in girls, 12 in boys) and then a pruning back in adolescence.
Which of the following lobes of the brain are the last to develop during adolescence?
The different centres of the brain develop and become functionally connected over time. The last part to mature is the prefrontal lobe. This happens during adolescence.
