雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

Recent advances in neuroscience have revealed that the human brain undergoes significant structural changes during adolescence, a period traditionally viewed as the end of cognitive development. Contrary to this assumption, researchers have found that the prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, continues to mature well into the mid-20s. Meanwhile, the limbic system, which processes emotions and rewards, develops earlier, creating an imbalance that explains heightened risk-taking behavior in teenagers. This neurological disparity suggests that adolescent behavior is not merely a product of social influence but is deeply rooted in biological processes. Understanding these changes has profound implications for education and legal policy, as it challenges the notion of full adult responsibility for younger individuals.