Why are adolescents more susceptible to risk-taking behavior?

Risk taking and adolescence go hand in hand, and the brain plays a large part in such behavior. In early adolescence, the balance of neurotransmitters shifts. At 9-10 years, the prefrontal cortex and limbic system experience a marked shift in levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that are associated with impulsivity, novelty seeking, and reward salience. Sensitivity to rewards peaks at the same time as adolescents experience difficulty with response inhibition, the ability to control a response. A heightened response to motivational cues coupled with immature behavioral control results in a bias toward immediate goals rather than long-term consequences. As a result, risky situations, those that entail an element of danger, become enticing and experienced as thrills.