Present simple and continuous: emergence of self-regulation and contextual sophistication in adolescent decision-making

Christakou, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4267-3436 (2014) Present simple and continuous: emergence of self-regulation and contextual sophistication in adolescent decision-making. Neuropsychologia, 65. pp. 302-312. ISSN 0028-3932 doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.09.008

Abstract/Summary

Sophisticated, intentional decision-making is a hallmark of mature, self-aware behaviour. Although neural, psychological, interpersonal, and socioeconomic elements that contribute to such adaptive, foresighted behaviour mature and/or change throughout the life-span, here we concentrate on relevant maturational processes that take place during adolescence, a period of disproportionate developmental opportunity and risk. A brief, eclectic overview is presented of recent evidence, new challenges, and current thinking on the fundamental mechanisms that mature throughout adolescence to support adaptive, self-controlled decision-making. This is followed by a proposal for the putative contribution of frontostriatal mechanisms to the moment-to-moment assembly of evaluative heuristics that mediate increased decision-making sophistication, promoting the maturation of self-regulated behaviour through adolescence and young adulthood.