WSC Weekly
2026世界学者杯
the World Scholar's Cup
@WSC小学者们！Jerry喊你来看
WSC Weekly专栏啦！
2026年度主题
Are We There Yet?
WSC Weekly专栏将精选最新话题内容
助力小学者准备世界学者杯！
让我们怀着
永恒的学术精神与信念
探索未来的无限可能吧！
锁定每周WSC Weekly
上期回顾&Quiz答案揭晓
在2026年世界学者杯第8期WSC Weekly栏目中，我们与小学者一起学习了“vibe coding”背后的秘密。在上期的趣味Quiz中，你是否找到了正确答案？现在就让我们一起来揭晓吧！
点击查看上期话题
有了vibe-coding
人人都能手搓自己的app？
What happens when you can build an app just by describing it?
第08期Quiz答案揭晓：
Vibe coding is LEAST suitable for developing which of the following? 氛围编程最不适合开发下列哪一项程序？
A. A tool that automatically scans a massive online store to ensure the "Buy Now" button still works after a software update.
一种能够自动扫描大型在线商店的工具，以确保软件更新后“立即购买”按钮仍能正常工作。
B. A collection of pre-designed digital buttons, fonts, and menus used to keep several different websites looking consistent.
一组预先设计的数字按钮、字体和菜单，用于保持多个不同网站的外观一致。
C. A data visualizer that turns complex sound recordings into colorful charts to help scientists spot patterns.
一种数据可视化工具，能将复杂的音频记录转化为色彩丰富的图表，帮助科学家发现规律。
D. A specialized security program built to protect bank accounts from being hacked by future super-computers.
一款专门的安全程序，旨在保护银行账户免遭未来超级计算机的黑客攻击。
E. A smartphone app that helps neighbors coordinate a local park cleanup and share equipment.
一款智能手机应用，帮助邻居们协调当地公园的清理工作并共享设备。
正确答案: D
Key: D
2026年第9期
Weekly Intro
前一刻，一个少年还在和你讨论哲学或未来规划，说得头头是道；下一刻，他却因为一个荒诞的挑战笑得前仰后合，或者冲动地发出一条后悔莫及的短信。青春期这种“人设分裂”，让无数成年人直呼看不懂。有人说这是自控力太差，也有人怪罪环境的影响。但脑科学却告诉我们，这背后是一场从9岁一直持续到30岁出头的“大脑大改造”。它到底是成长路上不得不经历的“混乱施工期”，还是被广为流传的“25岁终点线”给简化了的真相？
本期Weekly将带你搞懂额叶发育背后的真相，看懂青春期的 “分裂人设”。
2026 No.9
前额叶还没长好，可以不当大人吗？
Why adolescence lasts longer in the brain than we once thought?
大脑发育的“矛盾期”
前一分钟，一名青少年可能还在课堂上发表精辟的见解，规划下周的行程，听起来出奇地睿智；后一分钟，同一个人可能就会因为一个危险的挑战而疯狂大笑，发送一条瞬间让自己后悔的短信，或者明明第二天早上 8 点有考试，却依然熬夜到凌晨。在成年人看来，这似乎是一种矛盾。但从大脑的角度来看，这完全合情合理。青少年时期不仅仅是一个社交阶段或学龄分类，它是人类一生中大脑发育最剧烈的时期之一。
One minute, a teenager is making a brilliant point in class, planning the week ahead, and sounding surprisingly wise. The next, that same person is laughing too hard at a risky dare, sending a text they instantly regret, or staying up far too late even though tomorrow’s exam is at 8 a.m. To adults, this can seem like a contradiction. But from the brain’s point of view, it makes perfect sense. Adolescence is not just a social stage or a school-age category. It is one of the most dramatic periods of brain development in human life.
额叶
这个故事的核心是额叶（frontal lobe），这是大脑前部的一个区域，负责规划、判断、自我控制和权衡后果。它能帮助人在行动前停顿思考、未雨绸缪，并在“眼前的快感”与“长远的利益”之间做出选择。正因如此，当人们谈论青少年的冲动或成长中的挑战时，总会提到它。一个流传极广的说法是：额叶在25岁时才“完全发育成熟”。这个观点在网上很受欢迎，因为它为青少年和步入成年早期时的不稳定状态提供了一个简单的解释。但事实的真相其实比这要更复杂。
At the center of this story is the frontal lobe, a region near the front of the brain that helps with planning, judgment, self-control, and weighing consequences. It is the part that helps someone pause before acting, think ahead, and choose between what feels good now and what will matter later. Because of this, it is often mentioned when people talk about teenage impulsiveness or the challenges of growing up. The common claim is that the frontal lobe “fully develops” at age 25. That idea has become extremely popular, especially online, because it offers a simple explanation for why adolescence and early adulthood can feel so unstable. But the real story is more interesting and more complex.
25岁—被误解的推测值
“25岁”这个概念并非凭空出现。它源于20世纪90年代末和21世纪初的早期脑成像研究。这些研究追踪了大脑随时间的变化，显示出大脑的某些部分在青少年时期甚至成年早期仍在继续发育。研究人员特别注意到，额叶中与判断、情绪调节和社会行为相关的区域发生了显著变化。然而，由于早期的某些研究在发育实际完成前就结束了，25岁更像是一个推测值，而非一个经过证实的终点线。随着时间的推移，这个估计值演变成了一个被广泛传播的误区。
The “age 25” idea did not appear out of nowhere. It came from early brain imaging studies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These studies tracked how the brain changed over time and showed that certain parts of the brain were still maturing during the teen years and into early adulthood. In particular, researchers noticed important changes in the frontal lobe, especially in areas linked to judgment, emotional regulation, and social behaviour. However, because some of those early studies ended before development was actually complete, age 25 became more of an estimate than a proven finish line. Over time, that estimate turned into a widely repeated myth.
青少年的表现为何起伏不定？
最新的研究描绘了一幅更宏大的图景。科学家现在不再仅仅关注大脑区域的大小或形状，而是研究大脑不同部分之间沟通的效率。这至关重要，因为一个运转良好的大脑不仅依赖于单个区域，还取决于区域间连接的强度和速度。大脑组织的重大变化会持续到 25 岁以后，一项大型分析甚至描述了一个从 9 岁一直延伸到 30 岁出头的漫长发育阶段。一个生动的比喻是将大脑想象成一座仍在施工中的城市。在青少年时期，一些街道被拆除，另一些街道被拓宽，重要区域之间正在形成全新的快速通道。大脑不仅仅是在生长，它是在重组。经常使用的路径会得到强化，而不常用的则会被“修剪”。其目标不是网络变得更大，而是变得更高效。这解释了为什么青少年的表现如此起伏不定：一个年轻人可能已经拥有深邃的思想和坚定的价值观，但在情绪激动的时刻，依然难以控制冲动。系统正在升级，但交通依然混乱。
Newer research paints a broader picture. Instead of looking only at the size or shape of brain regions, scientists now study how efficiently different parts of the brain communicate with one another. This matters because a well-functioning brain depends not just on individual areas, but on the strength and speed of their connections. Major changes in brain organization continue beyond the mid-20s, and one large analysis described a long developmental phase stretching from about age nine into the early 30s. A vivid way to imagine this is to think of the brain as a city still under construction. During adolescence, some streets are being removed, others are being widened, and entirely new express routes are forming between important districts. The brain is not simply growing; it is reorganizing. Some pathways are strengthened because they are used often. Others are trimmed back. The goal is not to become bigger, but to become more efficient. This helps explain why adolescence can feel so uneven. A young person may already have deep ideas and strong values, yet still struggle with impulse control in emotionally charged moments. The system is being upgraded, but the traffic is still messy.
奖赏和情绪对大脑的影响
当情绪或奖赏介入时，情况尤为如此。研究表明，在青少年时期，与奖赏和兴奋相关的大脑系统会变得高度活跃，而负责克制和精细控制的系统则成熟得较为缓慢。这并不意味着青少年缺乏理智，而是意味着新奇感、刺激感、尴尬感、友谊和社交地位的吸引力会以异常强大的力量袭来。想象一个学生，他绝不会独自玩滑板冲下楼梯扶手，但当朋友在旁围观时，他可能就会蠢蠢欲动。这种选择未必源于无知，而是源于大脑在社交环境下对“奖赏”格外敏感。
That is especially true when emotions or rewards enter the picture. Research suggests that during adolescence, brain systems linked to reward and excitement can become highly active, while systems involved in restraint and careful control mature more gradually. This does not mean teenagers are incapable of reasoning. It means the pull of novelty, thrill, embarrassment, friendship, and social status can hit with unusual force. Imagine a student who would never skateboard down a stair rail alone but suddenly considers it when friends are watching. The choice may not come from ignorance. It may come from a brain that is especially sensitive to reward in social settings.
大脑发育不止于成年
这种关于额叶发育的长期视角也改变了我们对“成年”的看法。如果大脑发育持续到30岁出头，那么成长就不再像是到达一条终点线，而更像是一个长期的建筑工程。它提醒我们，成熟是循序渐进的，人们在告别青少年时期很久之后，可能仍在养成重要的思维习惯。同样重要的是，研究表明青少年期是一个强大的成长窗口。由于大脑在这一漫长时期内保持着极高的可塑性，个人经历变得至关重要。通过学习、运动和具有挑战性的活动来锻炼大脑，可以支持其发育。学习一门新语言、玩策略游戏或掌握难度较大的新技能，都有助于强化大脑的适应能力。相反，长期压力可能会使这一过程变得更加艰难。
This longer view of frontal lobe development also changes how we think about adulthood. If brain development continues into the early 30s, then growing up is less like reaching a finish line and more like moving through an extended construction project. It reminds us that becoming mature is gradual, and that people may still be developing important mental habits well after their teenage years. Just as importantly, this research suggests that adolescence is a powerful window for growth. Because the brain remains especially changeable during this long period, experiences matter. Challenging the brain through learning, exercise, and mentally demanding activities can support its development. Learning a new language, playing strategy games, or taking on difficult new skills may help strengthen the brain’s ability to adapt. On the other hand, chronic stress can make this process harder.
Weekly 关键词 Key Word
►
frontal lobes
额叶
所属话题
Going Pains
相关阅读
https://theconversation.com/no-your-brain-doesnt-suddenly-fully-develop-at-25-heres-what-the-neuroscience-actually-shows-271826
Weekly FUN Quiz
相信现在你已经了解了“额叶”背后的秘密！那就快来参与本期Weekly FUN Quiz👇，告诉老师你的答案吧！
Quiz
Why was age 25 widely mistaken as the "finish line" for brain development in early neuroscience? 为什么在早期神经科学领域，25岁会被普遍误认为是脑发育的“终点线”？
A. Early researchers legally couldn't scan brains older than twenty-five. 早期研究人员在法律上无法对25岁以上的人群进行脑部扫描。
B. Influential studies stopped scanning participants around the age of twenty. 一些有影响力的研究在受试者约20岁时就停止了扫描。
C. Age twenty-five is when humans naturally stop forming new memories. 25岁是人类自然停止形成新记忆的年龄。
D. The prefrontal cortex physically stops growing at age twenty-six. 前额叶皮层会在26岁时停止生长。
E. It marks the biological shift from nocturnal to diurnal sleeping habits. 这一年龄标志着睡眠习惯从夜行性向昼行性的生物学转变。
