The social brain

of a teenager I T has been known for many decadesthat the brain undergoes critical periodsof development during the early years. However, only recently has it been discovered that brain development does not stop after early childhood. Indeed, new evidence shows that certain regions of the human brain continue to develop during adolescence and beyond. Some of these regions, in particular the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and superior temporal cortex, are involved in social cognitive processes, such as understanding others ’ minds. Thus, it might be expected that certain social cognitive processes undergo refinement during adolescence. While there is a mas