A META-ANALYSIS OF THE NEURAL MECHANISMS UNDERLYING DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES IN ADOLESCENTS IN RISKY SITUATIONS

Adolescence is widely recognized as a critical developmental period, marked by significant psychological and neurocognitive changes. Neurocognitive developments, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, facilitate higher-order cognitive abilities and undergo rapid growth during this period. Understanding adolescent decision-making processes is crucial for several reasons. It provides insights into their unique developmental challenges and informs the design of interventions to mitigate risky behaviors affecting both individuals and the larger community. This meta-analysis investigates the neural mechanisms underlying adolescent risky-situation decision-making and finds commonalities, differences, and limitations in current research. Key insights include the common findings of activation in the middle frontal gyrus, ACC, and temporal regions.