A social neuroscience perspective on adolescent risk-taking

Abstract

This article proposes a framework for theory and research on risk-taking that is informed by developmental neuroscience. Two fundamental questions motivate this review. First, why does risktaking increase between childhood and adolescence? Second, why does risk-taking decline between adolescence and adulthood? Risk-taking increases between childhood and adolescence as a result of changes around the time of puberty in the brain's socio-emotional system leading to increased rewardseeking, especially in the presence of peers, fueled mainly by a dramatic remodeling of the brain's dopaminergic system. Risk-taking declines between adolescence and adulthood because of changes in the brain's cognitive control system -changes which improve individuals' capacity for selfregulation. These changes occur across adolescence and young adulthood and are seen in structural and functional changes within the prefrontal cortex and its connections to other brain regions. The differing timetables of these changes make mid-adolescence a time of heightened vulnerability to risky and reckless behavior.

UPPS-P model impulsivity and marijuana use behaviors in adolescents: A meta-analysis

“…Impulsivity is one of the most important personality-based risk factors for marijuana use (Barrera et al, 2001;Jessor et al, 1980;Steinberg, 2008;Willoughby et al, 2014). However, despite this well-acknowledge relationship, evidence for the role of impulsivity in adolescent marijuana use behaviors is mixed (Andrucci et al, 1989;Chabrol et al, 2012;Gerra et al, 2004;Malmberg et al, 2013).…”

Social status strategy in early adolescent girls: Testosterone and value-based decision making

“…One hypothesis is that dopaminergic changes in the striatum and prefrontal cortex may increase reward sensitivity Sinclair et al, 2014). A contrasting hypothesis is that such changes may result in a "reward deficiency syndrome" (Forbes and Dahl, 2010;Steinberg 2008). Yet another line of investigation has focused on reward prediction errors as underlying these maturational changes .…”

“…Yet another line of investigation has focused on reward prediction errors as underlying these maturational changes . Despite uncertainty in the specific mechanisms, these changes appear to increase sensation-seeking propensity and subsequently contribute to greater tendencies toward exploration and risk taking, especially in the presence of peers (Steinberg 2008). Indeed, reward-seeking behavior increases broadly at puberty (Braams et al, 2015;Spielberg et al, 2014) and this type of sensation seeking is tied to risk-taking behavior in children, adolescents, and adults (Chein et al, 2011).…”

“…Although several interacting theories seek to explain the ways in which pubertal development contributes to risk behavior, research in this area is in its early stages. One promising perspective highlights the hor-monally influenced motivational underpinnings that contribute to the emergence of bold and risky behavior at this time of transition (e.g., Steinberg 2008). In particular, increases in testosterone associated with pubertal development, appear to predict an increased appetite for exciting affective experiences and an increased valuing of social admiration, which may interact with still-developing cognitive control systems in ways that can contribute to risk taking (Braams et al, 2015;Crone and Dahl, 2012).…”

Recommendations for International Gambling Harm-Minimisation Guidelines: Comparison with Effective Public Health Policy

“…These findings indicate that age restrictions are appropriate to reduce problem gambling. Furthermore, since executive brain functions are still developing throughout young adulthood [18-25 years (Somerville & Casey, 2010)], from a developmental perspective, the legal age of 18 years may be too low to protect adolescents and young adults from hazardous behaviours (Steinberg, 2008). The effects of increases and decreases in age limits for the sale of alcohol as described in scientific literature (Wagenaar, 1983;Kypri et al, 2006;Everitt & Jones, 2002) underline this assumption.…”