Debating the Teen Brain (1/2)

Parents might tell teenagers, "Act your age." But some scientists say that is exactly what teens are doing. They say that while teenagers can look all grown up, studies have found that their brains are still developing. How much this explains their behavior, though, is a subject of debate.

Jay Giedd of the National Institutes of Health in the United States is a leader in this area of research.. Doctor Giedd has been studying a group of young people since 1991. They visit him every two years for a new M.R.I., or magnetic" class="hjdict" word="magnetic" target=_blank>magneticresonance imaging, of their brains.

He says considerable development continues throughout the teen years and into the twenties. A part of the brain called the dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex appears especially undeveloped in teens. Researchers believe that among its duties, this area controls judgment and consideration of risk.

So, in theory, its underdevelopment may explain why young people seem more willing to take risks like driving too fast.

参考译文：

家长们可能告诉年轻人， "在你的年龄做你该做的事" 。但是一些科学家指出，年轻人正在做着他们年龄该做的事情。他们说，虽然青少年看似已经长大了，研究发现，他们的大脑仍处于发展阶段。虽然这是一个有争议的话题，但多少这也可以解释他们的行为。

Jay Giedd ，是美国国立卫生研究院研究这一问题的负责人，.. Giedd博士自1991年便一直在研究一组青年人。他们每隔两年为那些青年人观测一下大脑，或给他们的大脑做核磁共振。

他说，在整个青少年时期到二十多岁大脑会有相当大的发展。被称为背外侧前额叶皮层的大脑的一部分看来，尤其在青少年时期是未充分发育的。研究者认为，在大脑的这些作用中，这方面是控制判断力和风险考虑意识的。

因此，在理论上，大脑的不发达也许可以解释为什么年轻人似乎更愿意冒风险飞速驾驶了。