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Neurobiology of Addiction: a Neurocircuitry Analysis
Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder with a cycle of binge/intoxication, withdrawal, and craving. This condition involves neuroplastic changes in the brain's reward, stress, and executive function systems.
Peer Passenger Norms and Pressure: Experimental Effects on Simulated Driving Among Teenage Males
Teen crash rates are higher than adults due to inexperience and development. Peers, especially male passengers, increase risk-taking in adolescent drivers.
Searching for Signatures of Brain Maturity: What Are We Searching For?
Neuroscientific evidence of brain development is increasingly used in legal and policy discussions. However, there is no scientific consensus on what constitutes a "mature" brain, as development continues past age 30.
The Dual Systems Model: Review, Reappraisal, and Reaffirmation
Adolescent risk-taking is linked to different brain systems developing at different rates. A system seeking rewards matures earlier than the system controlling impulses, contributing to risky behaviors during these years.
The Neurobiology of the Emotional Adolescent: From the Inside Out
Adolescent emotional lives are complex, shaped by hormonal changes, brain development, and evolving social relationships. Research shows three main connections between neurobiology and emotions in adolescence.
Brief of Amicus Curiae American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children in Support of Petitioner
This brief argues that Joseph H.'s severe childhood abuse compromised his ability to understand his Miranda rights. The lower court failed to adequately weigh the impact of his maltreatment, violating his constitutional rights.
Adolescent Impatience Decreases with Increased Frontostriatal Connectivity
Adolescence is a period of increased impulsivity, which is essential for developing adult skills but also linked to risky behaviors.
Age Differences in the Impact of Peers on Adolescents' and Adults' Neural Response to Reward
Adolescents take more risks when peers are present, even without direct peer pressure. Research suggests this peer effect in adolescents is linked to heightened reward sensitivity, impacting how their brains process rewards.
Beyond Simple Models of Self-control to Circuit-based Accounts of Adolescent Behavior
The teen brain isn't "defective" but is shaped by biology and experiences during adolescence. This period sees high sensation-seeking and increased mental health issues, driven by complex developmental changes.
State v. O’Dell
The Washington Supreme Court affirmed a child rape conviction but ruled trial courts can consider a defendant's youth as a mitigating factor in sentencing.
Horsley v. State
The Florida Supreme Court found a juvenile's mandatory life without parole sentence unconstitutional. The case was returned for resentencing consistent with juvenile sentencing laws.
State v. Seats
The Iowa Supreme Court sent the case of a 17-year-old convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole back for resentencing. This decision followed U.S. and Iowa Supreme Court rulings on cruel and unusual punishment.
State v. Riley
The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled a 100-year sentence for a juvenile was unconstitutional. The court mandated considering age and rehabilitation potential in discretionary sentencing for minors.
Casiano v. Comm’r of Corr.
The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that Miller v. Alabama, which bars mandatory juvenile life without parole, applies retroactively. This means juveniles sentenced before Miller could have their life sentences reviewed.
State v. Houston
The Utah Supreme Court upheld juvenile life without parole sentences, finding they do not violate the Eighth Amendment. The court acknowledged potential for rehabilitation but noted severe crimes and individual circumstances.