Adolescence

…pruning and connections during adolescence using virus-based neural circuit mapping with molecular and pharmacological tools, works with computat

Rachna Reddy studies relationships among wild chimpanzees and bonobos to investigate adolescence as a period of both vulnerability and resilience. Drawing on more than a decade observing chimpanzees, the presentation brings together biological, anthropological, psychological and neuroscientific perspectives through cross-species empirical research. It connects questions about development in our closest living relatives with understanding the human life course; Reddy’s fellowship work also includes a coming-of-age novel informed by the lives of the chimpanzees she studies.

…Adolescence is considered a crucial period for the maturation of E-I balance [2,3]. This has been primarily observed in animal studies, and human in vivo evidence on adolescent maturation of the E-I balance at an individual level is limited. Here, we investigated an in vivo marker of regional E-I balance in human adolescents based on individualized biophysical network models. Methods: Regional E-I balance was estimated using large-scale simulati

Emotions are fundamental to human development and survival across the lifespan. Adolescence is a volatile and critical developmental period characterized by frequent high-intensity positive and negative emotions. Emotion dysregulation is a transdiagnostic risk factor for various mental health disorders, specifically depression symptoms and suicidal behaviors. This study aims to explore the association of emotion regulation difficulties with depression and suicide risk among adolescent undergraduate students. The cross-sectional study used a descriptive-analytical design and sampled 384 partici

Aims: Adolescence is a critical period characterized by increased sensation-seeking, risk-taking, and sensitivity to rewards, alongside neural and behavioral changes. Research suggests that alterations in functional connectivity within and between cortical and subcortical areas optimize interregional communication, impacting reward processing and decision-making. Hormonal changes, notably gonadal hormones, significantly influence adolescent behavior and brain development. This study aims to elucidate adolescent behavior through a reward learning paradigm while investigating underlying neuronal

…of ad libitum daily intake) during adolescence on the short-term (STM) and long-term (LTM) memory performance in 6- and 18-month-old female Wistar rats. The effects of DR were examined in three onsets and durations: DR1 (28th to 35th day of life), DR2 (35th to 42nd day

…periods of postnatal development, and adolescence is a particularly vulnerable emotional period. Among the cellular mechanisms involved in changes in the activity of individual neurons and their synaptic connections, the mTOR signaling pathway has been proposed as a molecular regulator of emotional memories and could thus constitute a common mechanistic source of the emergence of anxiety symptoms in these disorders. We hypothesize that amygdala mTOR dysfunction during infancy can initiate a

Alcohol use represents a significant health concern, accounting for 4.5% of global disease burden. Only a small proportion of individuals develop persistent alcohol used disorder though. With current pharmacotherapies largely unsatisfying, discovering novel alternatives to prevent alcohol use disorder becomes a priority. Hence, identifying biological markers predicting vulnerability to develop excessive alcohol consumption may lead to real improvement of clinical care. Converging evidence suggests that gut microbiota is capable of influencing immunity, brain and behavior. We thus investigated

Cannabis consumption, particularly among adolescents, has surged over the last decades. Adolescence is a critical period for brain development during which the prefrontal cortex (PFC) completes its maturation. There is strong evidence that the endocannabinoid system is a key regulator of brain development and of maturation of the PFC during adolescence. However, whether chronic cannabinoid receptor activation during this stage of development has long-term consequences for PFC function and associated behaviors remains unexplored. Here we show that repeated injection of cannabinoid receptor agon

Adolescence, a critical stage of development characterized by increased neuroplasticity, is marked by a significant risk for the onset of psychiatric disorders. Inflammatory events during this period may increase the risk of developing psychiatric disorders, with tryptophan metabolism playing a potential role in this process.Our goal was to investigate whether exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during adolescence impacts emotional behaviour and the inflammatory response in adult animals in a sex-specific manner. Male and female C57BL6J mice were injected at PND36 with LPS (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) or

As one of the main characteristics of adolescence is the increased desire for social interaction and formation of meaningful relationships, it represents a particularly vulnerable period for social stressors. Moreover, social isolation during adolescence can significantly alter brain function and increase the likelihood of anxiety disorders in early adulthood. The aim of this retrospective meta-analysis and prospective behavioural experiment was to investigate whether chronic isolation stress during adolescence causes generalised and social anxiety-like behaviour in rodents. The meta-analysis

…health problems during childhood and adolescence requires theoretical and methodological integration across multiple scientific domains, including developmental science, neuroscience, genetics, education and prevention science. The primary focus of this presentation is to examine the relative role of genetic and family environmental influences on children’s emotional and behavioural

…Since drug use usually begins in adolescence, it is also important to understand the long-term effects of adolescent drug exposure on schizophrenia- and reward- related behaviors and circuitry. This talk will combine pharmac

Adolescence is a period of life characterised by heightened sensitivity to social stimuli, an increased need for peer interaction and peer acceptance, and development of the social brain. Lockdown and social distancing measures intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are reducing the opportunity to engage in face-to-face social interaction with peers. The consequences of social distancing on human social brain and social cognitive development are unknown, but animal research has shown that social deprivation and isolation have unique effects on brain and behaviour in adolescence compared w