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Commentary: Making the brain matter in assessing and treating adolescent substance use – a commentary on Conrod and Nikolaou (2016)
Author(s) -
Mosconi Matthew W.,
Lejuez Carl W.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/jcpp.12532
Subject(s) - psychology , vulnerability (computing) , autonomy , cognition , developmental psychology , neuroscience , computer security , computer science , political science , law
Adolescence represents a period of vulnerability to psychiatric problems due to a range of factors, including advances in social and cognitive abilities, increased levels of autonomy in decision‐making and behavioral governance, and greater exposure to opportunities for risk‐taking behavior. Adding to these psychological and social challenges, adolescence also is marked by robust maturational changes affecting both the microcircuitry and connectivity between widely distributed brain systems. These changes alter the communication among parallel, distributed brain networks, have implications for one's vulnerability to engage in risk behavior and make the brain particularly susceptible to external perturbations, such as exposure to neurotoxic substances.