Handout 5:
Adolescent and Emerging Adult Brain Development
Brain change
Implications of change

Synaptic growth and
pruning

Neuroplasticity, growth
and development of new
thinking and behavior.
May also limit
identification of reward
cues and value
representations (as
compared to adults)

Increasing myelination

Myelination enhances
speed and efficiency of
information processing

Dopamine
neurotransmission in
striatal and cortical
systems peaks during

Dopamine transporters
remove dopamine from
synapse – may lead to
heightened but
Implications and
opportunities of youth in
foster care
CalSWEC Title IV-E Curriculum Enhancement: AB 12
Brain change
Implications of change
adolescence
temporary sensitivity to
rewards (especially
pertinent to ADHD)

“Under” activity during 
anticipatory processing
in ventral striatum
Reward cue detection is
less sensitive when
reward is offered and
more distal (delayed
gratification)

“Under” activity during 
probablistic decision
making in orbitofrontal
cortex and medial
prefrontal cortex
Value representation is
less developed and
ability to accurately
determine possible
negative consequences

“Over” activity in
Implications and
opportunities of youth in
foster care

Behaviors leading to
CalSWEC Title IV-E Curriculum Enhancement: AB 12
Brain change
Implications of change
ventral striatum during
reward receipt

Development of circuits
supporting inhibitory
control is protracted

Amygdala
hyperactivity

Implications and
opportunities of youth in
foster care
immediate reward
are enhanced at
expense of longerterm reward
Limitations to harm
avoidant behavior
References: Galvan, A. (2010). Adolescent development of the reward system. Frontiers in Human
Neuroscience.
Geier, C., Terwilliger, R., Teslovich, T., Velanova, L., & Luna, B. (2009). Immaturities in reward processing
and its influence on inhibitory control in adolescence. Cerebral Cortex Advance Access.
CalSWEC Title IV-E Curriculum Enhancement: AB 12