En este trabajo se comentan los hallazgos recientes en el campo de la neurobiología relacionados con comportamientos de riesgo de los adolescents presentados en el artículo de Burunat. Aunque algunos procesos neurobio-lógicos pueden estar implicados en la mayor proclividad al consumo de drogas o al comportamiento antisocial durante la adolescencia, difícilmente podrían explicar por sí solos estas conductas. Estos descubrimientos relacionados con la maduración de las estructuras cerebrales, junto a las aportaciones de la genética de la conducta o de la psicología evolucionista del desarrollo, pueden ayudarnos a entender mejor el desarrollo adolescente y sus diferencias. Sin embargo, es preciso elaborar modelos de carácter sistémico que capaciten a los investigadores para formular y probar hipótesis sobre cómo interactúan los procesos biológicos, psicológicos y contextuales para influir sobre el desarrollo humano. Se exponen también algunas dudas suscitadas por las propuestas educativas sugeridas por Burunat a partir de los procesos neurobiológicos descritos. Por último, la idea de que la adolescencia es un periodo crítico para el desarrollo es contemplada desde una perspectiva más psicosocial que biológica.
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