Teenagers often make risky choices that appear absurd in the eyes of their parents. But neuroscientist Adriana Galván says these decisions are critical for adolescent brain development.

A Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, Adriana Galván’s work focuses on brain development — how cognitive and social behaviors change from childhood to adulthood. Through her research on the teenage brain, she seeks to inform youth-related policies such as juvenile justice.

Listen to Dr. Galván explain how the adolescent brain makes decisions in this NPR podcast:

Source: NPR | Adriana Galván: How Does The Teenage Brain Make Decisions?, https://www.npr.org/2021/03/05/973797106/adriana-galvan-how-does-the-teenage-brain-make-decisions | Episode date: March 5, 2021. © 2022 npr. Last reviewed May 2026.