Brain region involved in planning and self-control that continues developing through the mid-20s. Which term?

• A. Prefrontal cortex
• B. Neural pruning
• C. Neophilia
• D. Risk taking

Answer: (A)

The prefrontal cortex, located at the front of the brain, handles planning, impulse control, and other executive functions that guide goal-directed behavior. It matures later than many other brain regions, with development continuing through the mid-20s, which helps explain why self-control and the ability to plan ahead improve during late adolescence and early adulthood. That makes it the best fit for the description.

Neural pruning describes a developmental process of trimming unused connections, neophilia is a tendency to seek new experiences, and risk taking is a behavior influenced by multiple systems rather than a single brain region.