As Gotgay and Thompson (this issue) note, the evidence also points to early adolescence as a time of considerable brain plasticity, which has several important implications. To the extent that patterns of synaptic proliferation and elimination are contextually-dependent (something that is not yet known but crucial to examine), we should expect to see considerable individual differences in brain structure and function that can be linked to differences in experience. In this sense, brain plasticity in adolescence makes this period a time of considerable opportunity for intervention. At the same time, however, heightened brain plasticity in adolescence may contribute to increased vulnerability to certain forms of psychopathology, many of which begin or intensify during adolescence. This suggestion is further bolstered by studies demonstrating differential responsivity to stress during adolescence as compared to adulthood, as discussed by McCormick and colleagues in this issue (see also Walker et al., 2004).
