<p>The teenage brain is the final frontier of immense neural development The focus of brain development at this point is the pre-frontal cortex. This region, “the fourth brain,” allows us to make future plans, and is involved in personal responsibility, morality, and self-control. This maturation process shapes personality, behavior and identity.&nbsp; During this time girls are dealing with the flux of estrogen and progesterone, and for boys the production of testosterone increases. This all occurs in the limbic system, generated by the hypothalamus, which can lead to emotional lability and moodiness.&nbsp;</p><p>Adolescents create melatonin on a different schedule than adults, which makes them stay up at night about two hours later. This s one of the reasons teenager sleep until noon on weekends (when they’re not in school). In addition, teenage brains need more sleep than adults (9-10 bours compared to 8).</p><p><br></p>