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Adolescent Engagement in Dangerous Behaviors Is Associated with Increased White Matter Maturity of Frontal Cortex
Adolescents' risky behavior, a leading cause of death, is linked to brain development. A study found that engaging in dangerous activities is associated with greater, not less, frontal white matter maturity.
Age Differences in Future Orientation and Delay Discounting
Adolescents' ability to consider future consequences and plan ahead generally increases with age. However, studies do not consistently show age differences in how far into the future adolescents can imagine their lives.
Problems with Access to Adolescent Mental Health Care Can Lead to Dealings with the Criminal Justice System
Many young people experience mental health problems, yet few receive adequate treatment. This gap often leads to youth with mental health needs entering the criminal justice system, which is ill-equipped to provide care.
Psychosocial Stress Reversibly Disrupts Prefrontal Processing and Attentional Control
A study found chronic stress hinders attention shifts, a key function of the prefrontal cortex, but not other cognitive tasks. These stress effects on brain function were shown to be reversible.
The Influence of Substance Use on Adolescent Brain Development
Adolescent substance use, including alcohol and marijuana, can subtly but significantly alter brain structure and function. This may lead to lasting problems with memory, attention, and other cognitive abilities, even after use stops.
Trajectories of Antisocial Behavior and Psychosocial Maturity from Adolescence to Young Adulthood
Antisocial behavior typically peaks around age 17 and declines into adulthood, but some individuals continue this behavior. Researchers distinguish between those who desist and those whose antisocial behavior persists.
Adolescent Maturity and the Brain: The Promise and Pitfalls of Neuroscience Research in Adolescent Health Policy
Adolescence involves continued brain development, challenging prior assumptions. Frontal lobes, crucial for executive functions, mature late, raising questions about linking brain development to judgment and policy.
Adolescent Development and the Regulation of Youth Crime
Juvenile justice policy shifted significantly, moving from a rehabilitative approach for young lawbreakers to holding them accountable like adults.
A Social Neuroscience Perspective on Adolescent Risk-taking
Adolescents face significant public health threats from preventable, self-inflicted risks like accidents and substance use.
Adolescent development and the regulation of youth crime
Childhood Psychiatric Disorders and Young Adult Crime: A Prospective, Population-Based Study
A study found that young adults with a history of psychiatric disorders as children or adolescents were more likely to commit crimes. This link was especially strong for specific combinations of disorders.
Sociometric Status and Social Drinking: Observations of Modelling and Persuasion in Young Adult Peer Groups
This study explores how a person's social standing within a peer group affects their drinking habits. It suggests that popular or dominant group members may have a stronger influence on others' alcohol consumption.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbidity in Detained Youth
Many youths in detention have psychiatric disorders, with PTSD affecting at least one in ten. This study found nearly all detained youth with PTSD also had other psychiatric disorders, which negatively impacts their prognosis and treatment.
Rational Choice and Developmental Influences on Recidivism Among Adolescent Felony Offenders
Adolescence is a time of increased risk for crime and antisocial behaviors. Research on legal socialization and deterrence reveals how developmental factors influence these behaviors.
Development of the Adolescent Brain: Implications for Executive Function and Social Cognition
Research indicates that the adolescent brain undergoes significant development. The prefrontal cortex shows increased myelination, enhancing neural transmission speed, and changes in synaptic density through proliferation and pruning.