Executive Functions in Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood and Their Relationship with Risk-Taking Behavior

Dev Neuropsychol. 2020 Dec 18;45(7-8):446-468. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2020.1833885. Epub 2020 Oct 24.

Abstract

Executive functions (EF) continue developing throughout adolescence, with immaturity in EF theorized to underlie risk-taking. 129 older adolescents and young adults (aged 17 to 22 years) were assessed using a battery of cool and hot EF tasks, and a behavioral measure of risk-taking propensity. Minimal age-related differences in EF performance were evident, confirming they were largely functionally mature by mid-adolescence. Inconsistent with the predictions of imbalance models of adolescent development, weaker EF was not associated with greater risk-taking propensity. The findings suggest that during later adolescence and early adulthood, not all forms of risk-taking are associated with EF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Development / physiology*
  • Executive Function / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Young Adult