Gradual decreases in frontal theta oscillations during response inhibition across adolescence and young adulthood were observed in all study subjects. Previous developmental ERO studies76–78 have observed similar decreases in oscillatory power globally, likely reflecting synaptic pruning (ie, fewer, but more efficient, connections) that occurs rapidly during adolescence and continues through young adult- hood.79–82 This also could correspond with gray matter development and progressive maturing of the prefrontal cortex as it assumes greater control over neural processing throughout adolescence and young adulthood.83–85
