Why do teenagers sometimes make outrageous, risky choices? Do they suddenly become reckless, or are they just going through a natural phase? To find out, Kashfia Rahman -- winner of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (and a Harvard freshman) -- designed and conducted an experiment to test how high school students respond to and get used to risk, and how it changes their still-developing brains. What she discovered about risk and decision-making could change how we think about why teens do what they do.

Kashfia Rahman: How risk-taking changes a teenager's brain

How risk-taking changes a teenager's brain

Exploring the paradox of smart, responsible teens engaging in risky behaviors, a study reveals habituation’s role in risk-taking.

Research shows repeated exposure to risks dulls teenagers' emotional responses, leading to more risky behaviors and altered brains.

By understanding habituation's impact alongside brain development, interventions can be tailored to mitigate teens' risk-taking.