Evidence for a role of corticopetal, noradrenergic systems in the development of executive function

•Cognitive development in adolescence depends upon maturation of corticopetal systems.•Lesions of orbitofrontal cortex recapitulate cognitive immaturaties in adolescents.•Corticopetal noradrenergic pathways mature during adolescence.•Maturation of noradrenergic afferents varies across prefrontal sub-regions.