UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENT BRAINS: WHAT RESEARCH SAYS ABOUT EMERGING ADULTHOOD

Author: Sarah Offenberg

When your 18-year-old is legally classified as an adult but still feels like they are figuring everything out, there may be a scientific reason for that. Research indicates that the brain continues to grow and develop well into the mid-20s, suggesting that young adults are still in a phase of emotional and neurological growth.

In the study, “Changes in neural mechanisms of cognitive control during the transition from late adolescence to young adulthood,” researchers looked at how the brain keeps maturing between ages 18-25. Using fMRI brain scans, they specifically looked at 74 medical students who were aged from late adolescents (18-19) to young adults (23-25) as they completed an emotional and cognitive Stroop test (Veroude et al., 2013). The researchers wanted to see how brain activity changed between the two age groups when faced with tasks that required emotional regulation and self-control. Interestingly, they found that young adults showed significantly more brain activation than late adolescents in brain areas related to cognitive control. Specifically, brain regions in the frontal lobe, which are associated with focusing, planning, and regulating emotions.   

This shows us something striking: while one may legally become an “adult” at 18, their brain may still be catching up. This research supports the idea that brain development is not a switch that suddenly is flipped at adulthood -- it's a process. Executive functioning skills and emotional regulation appear to strengthen as people move through their early twenties. 

What can we as parents and therapists take away from this? It's a reminder that emerging adults should be approached with patience and empathy. Even when starting their first job or being in college, they are still learning how to manage complex decision-making, stress, and emotions. These years are important developmentally and environments that support mental health and emotional regulation are important at this stage. 

The implications of this study remind us that these are formative years, and emerging adulthood is a time of growth. We should recognize that growth is still happening and try to meet young adults with more patience, compassion, and encouragement. We can remind them that it is okay not to have everything figured out yet. 

Sources: 
​Veroude, K., Jolles, J., Croiset, G., & Krabbendam, L. (2013). Changes in neural mechanisms of cognitive control during the transition from late adolescence to young adulthood. Developmental cognitive neuroscience, 5, 63–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2012.12.002 

About the Author: 
​Sarah is a senior at Yeshiva University’s Stern College, majoring in Psychology with a strong interest in human behavior, decision-making, and relationship psychology. She has experience with Crisis Text Line, research in her college’s psychology lab, and serves as founder and president of the Women’s Counseling Club. Sarah plans to further her studies in psychology and enjoys wellness, photography, and filmmaking.