Development of the Mind By the age of 18, teenagers display a great deal of adult-like thinking (even though their brains are still developing). They may think abstractly and are frequently forward-thinking. They can comprehend, prepare for, and pursue long-term objectives. They frequently express concern about the future. Psychologists have found that teenagers' ability to reason abstractly and plan ahead is due to the increasing number of connections between different parts of their brain that control perception, memory, and judgment. This is why teenagers seem to understand things instinctively rather than through reasoning alone. As these connections continue to grow during adolescence, this instinctive understanding becomes more sophisticated and accurate. Motor skills also improve during this time. Adolescents become better coordinated because nerve cells in their brains are growing and connecting with each other. This causes them to learn new tasks more easily and perform existing tasks more accurately. Adolescence is a period of growth and change. The body, mind, and emotions all experience significant shifts during this time. The behaviors observed during adolescence will help psychologists understand how our minds develop as we grow older.