Linking Brain Growth with the Development of Scientific Reasoning Ability and Conceptual Change during Adolescence.

Tests the hypothesis that an early adolescent brain growth plateau and spurt exists, and that this plateau and spurt influence students' ability to reason scientifically and to learn theoretical science concepts. Finds that measures of students' (n=210) prefrontal lobe activity correlated highly with scientific reasoning ability, and that these factors predicted concept gains and posttest performance. (Contains 78 references.) (Author/WRM)