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Risk Taking and the Adolescent Reward System: a Potential Common Link to Substance Abuse
The article finds that adolescents who take more risks show less brain activity in areas related to reward. This suggests a common brain basis for risk-taking and addiction, possibly before substance abuse begins.
Heritability and Longitudinal Stability of Impulsivity in Adolescence
Impulsivity is a personality trait linked to various mental health conditions and antisocial behaviors in both children and adults.
Striatum–medial Prefrontal Cortex Connectivity Predicts Developmental Changes in Reinforcement Learning
The study found that learning from feedback improves with age. This improvement is linked to developmental changes in how the brain represents prediction errors and in the connectivity between brain regions.
Stress and the Developing Adolescent Brain
Adolescence is a time of both growth and vulnerability, with disorders like anxiety and depression increasing. Early stress during brain development may contribute to these mental health issues, potentially having lasting effects.
The Impact of Active and Passive Peer Influence on Young Adult Smoking: an Experimental Study
Research suggests young adults are more influenced by observing others smoking than by direct peer pressure. Passive imitation appears to be a stronger factor in smoking behavior than active encouragement.
Adolescence: A Foundation for Future Health
The current generation of 1.8 billion young people aged 10–24 is the largest in history. Their health has improved less than younger children, and they face new challenges.
Age-related Differences in Emotional Reactivity, Regulation, and Rejection Sensitivity in Adolescence
This study found that adolescents' emotional reactivity and ability to regulate emotions through reappraisal change throughout adolescence. Emotional intensity and regulation skills are not static but evolve across teenage years.
Imaging Brain Development: The Adolescent Brain
Advances in imaging techniques like MRI have revolutionized the study of human brain development. Research shows that brain structure and function change throughout life, with significant reorganization continuing into adulthood.
Metabolic Consequences of Stress During Childhood and Adolescence
Intense or long-term stress during childhood and adolescence can permanently alter emotions, behavior, growth, and metabolism. These effects often lead to health issues like obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
White Matter Development in Adolescence: the Influence of Puberty and Implications for Affective Disorders
Puberty marks a critical period of physical, emotional, and social change in adolescents. This includes dramatic increases in hormones and changes in brain development that may influence emotion and behavior regulation.
Aligning justice system processing with developmental science
Legal systems treat young offenders differently, but the age of adulthood varies. Research suggests 18-24 year olds are still developing, so the authors propose reforms like special courts and rehabilitation focused on this age group.
Civilian PTSD Symptoms and Risk for Involvement in the Criminal Justice System
Inner-city residents experience higher rates of trauma exposure and PTSD. This study explores the link between civilian PTSD and incarceration in an inner-city adult population.
Youth Are More Vulnerable to False Memories Than Middle-Aged Adults Due to Liberal Response Bias
This study found that young adults are more susceptible to forming false memories than middle-aged adults. This vulnerability may stem from underdeveloped neural systems impacting decision-making and cognitive control.
Interview and interrogation methods and their effects on true and false confessions
Research on interview methods shows accusatorial tactics increase false confessions, while information-gathering methods protect the innocent and still elicit true confessions.
Addiction, Adolescence, and the Integration of Control and Motivation
Adolescence involves significant shifts in motivation and impulse control. These changes can lead to increased risky behaviors, like substance abuse, due to an imbalance between strong emotions and developing self-regulation skills.