Dosenbach et al., 2010 Dosenbach N.U.

Nardos B.

Cohen A.L.

Fair D.A.

Power J.D.

Church J.A.

Nelson S.M.

Wig G.S.

Vogel A.C.

Lessov-Schlaggar C.N.

et al.

Dosenbach et al., 2010 Dosenbach N.U.

Nardos B.

Cohen A.L.

Fair D.A.

Power J.D.

Church J.A.

Nelson S.M.

Wig G.S.

Vogel A.C.

Lessov-Schlaggar C.N.

et al.

Despite the research advances, one issue that will continue to arise is how to incorporate the vast individual variation in adolescent behavior and neurodevelopment. Clearly, scientists recognize that behavior and brain development are highly variable across individuals but most research on the adolescent brain and all research that has been referenced in legal and policy contexts is based on group data. This is largely because of methodological constraints that necessitate inference based on a large number of research participants. One looming question that makes translation from laboratories to courtrooms challenging, therefore, is whether generic guidelines about maturation can be established based on neuroscience research or is individual variation so great as to preclude the establishment of a biological benchmark for adult-like maturity and judgment? Using multivariate pattern analysis methods, recent work has suggested that the field has made progress in using brain scans to assess functional maturation of individual brains (). Importantly, this report highlights that variability of brain maturation is as great within ages as it is between ages. For instance, within the 15 year olds in their sample, there is considerable variability in the brain maturation index (ranging from ∼0.4 functional connectivity maturation index [fcMI] to 2.2 fcMI) that is as large a range as between the 10 year olds and the adults in their late 20s (, Figure 1). This example underscores how imprecise age is as an index of cognitive maturation. Despite this, it is the only index currently used to determine eligibility for most privileges in this country, including driving, voting, marrying, purchasing alcohol and cigarettes, and serving in the military. Parents and scholars know that having reached the age at which involvement in an activity is legal is not necessarily equated with the developmental maturity the activity requires. In the future, perhaps it will be wiser to consider establishing guidelines based on skill rather than age, a marker that will differ among individuals based on underlying brain development.