Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by increased risk-taking, impulsivity, and emotional reactivity. This review explores the neural mechanisms underlying these behaviors, emphasizing the nonlinear changes in brain development during adolescence. The prefrontal cortex and limbic systems, particularly the nucleus accumbens and amygdala, play key roles in reward processing, emotional regulation, and decision-making. During adolescence, the limbic system develops more rapidly than the prefrontal cortex, leading to heightened sensitivity to rewards and emotional stimuli, while impulse control remains relatively immature. This imbalance contributes to increased risk-taking and emotional reactivity in adolescents. Animal studies show that adolescence is characterized by synaptic pruning and myelination, with the prefrontal cortex maturing later than the limbic regions. Human neuroimaging studies support these findings, showing that adolescents exhibit exaggerated activation in subcortical regions when making risky decisions or processing emotional information. These changes are associated with a shift in the balance between limbic and prefrontal control, with limbic regions dominating during adolescence. The neurobiological model of adolescence suggests that the imbalance between limbic and prefrontal systems explains the increased risk-taking and emotional reactivity observed in adolescents. This model reconciles the apparent contradiction between the cognitive abilities of adolescents and their tendency toward risky behavior. While adolescents may have the intellectual capacity to understand risks, emotional reactivity and the maturation of limbic systems can override prefrontal control in emotionally charged situations. The review also highlights individual differences in risk-taking and emotional reactivity, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. These differences can predispose some adolescents to greater risk and poorer outcomes. Neuroimaging studies show that individual variability in brain activity, particularly in the prefrontal and limbic regions, contributes to differences in emotional regulation and decision-making. Overall, the findings suggest that adolescence is a period of nonlinear brain development, with distinct trajectories for limbic and prefrontal systems. This developmental pattern has important implications for understanding adolescent behavior, risk-taking, and the treatment of adolescents in legal and social contexts. The model provides a framework for understanding the complex interplay between brain development and behavior during adolescence.Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by increased risk-taking, impulsivity, and emotional reactivity. This review explores the neural mechanisms underlying these behaviors, emphasizing the nonlinear changes in brain development during adolescence. The prefrontal cortex and limbic systems, particularly the nucleus accumbens and amygdala, play key roles in reward processing, emotional regulation, and decision-making. During adolescence, the limbic system develops more rapidly than the prefrontal cortex, leading to heightened sensitivity to rewards and emotional stimuli, while impulse control remains relatively immature. This imbalance contributes to increased risk-taking and emotional reactivity in adolescents. Animal studies show that adolescence is characterized by synaptic pruning and myelination, with the prefrontal cortex maturing later than the limbic regions. Human neuroimaging studies support these findings, showing that adolescents exhibit exaggerated activation in subcortical regions when making risky decisions or processing emotional information. These changes are associated with a shift in the balance between limbic and prefrontal control, with limbic regions dominating during adolescence. The neurobiological model of adolescence suggests that the imbalance between limbic and prefrontal systems explains the increased risk-taking and emotional reactivity observed in adolescents. This model reconciles the apparent contradiction between the cognitive abilities of adolescents and their tendency toward risky behavior. While adolescents may have the intellectual capacity to understand risks, emotional reactivity and the maturation of limbic systems can override prefrontal control in emotionally charged situations. The review also highlights individual differences in risk-taking and emotional reactivity, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. These differences can predispose some adolescents to greater risk and poorer outcomes. Neuroimaging studies show that individual variability in brain activity, particularly in the prefrontal and limbic regions, contributes to differences in emotional regulation and decision-making. Overall, the findings suggest that adolescence is a period of nonlinear brain development, with distinct trajectories for limbic and prefrontal systems. This developmental pattern has important implications for understanding adolescent behavior, risk-taking, and the treatment of adolescents in legal and social contexts. The model provides a framework for understanding the complex interplay between brain development and behavior during adolescence.