According to a long-held hypothesis, it is thought that the delay in the development of the brain will make adolescent decisions dangerous and dangerous. However, a new study, using a new sketch image of the brain, raises a completely different hypothesis.
A recent study uses illustrations of the brain to learn the behavior of adolescents. Research shows that adolescents with risky behaviors will often have larger amounts of white matter in their brains than other peers of the same age group.
During the adult age, the brain goes through a process of maturity and does not reach maturity until about mid-20-30 years old. There is a long-held hypothesis that this mechanism of delaying the ripening of the brain is responsible for the dangerous and dangerous decisions of adolescents.However, recent research has used a new form of brain illustration and a completely different hypothesis.
In order to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between participating in risky activities and the development of the brain, Emory University neuroscientists and Emory Medical School used magnetic resonance imaging machines. (MIR), also known as muscle diffusion camera to measure the structural change of white matter in the brain. The research results were published in Plos One magazine on August 26, 2009.
Professor Gregory Berns, principle investigator, Emory University psychiatrist and neurologist, and also director of the Neurosurgery Center said: 'In the past, studies focused only on on the gray matter density in the human brain since childhood until adulthood, and now with new technology we have been able to develop the first field of research on the relationship between substance development white in the brain with activities in the outside world. '
Gray matter is part of the brain that is made up of nerve cells and white matter that connects neurons together. As the brain grows, white matter becomes denser and more organized. Gray matter and white matter follow different curves.Both of these substances play a very important role in understanding the function of the brain.
The study was conducted for 91 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 within 3 years. The level of risky behaviors is determined by a teenage behavioral questionnaire that includes: agitation with dangerous games, irreverent behavior, opposition and anti-social behavior. DTI is used to measure the corresponding changes in the structure of white matter.
Professor Berns said: 'We were surprised to discover that engaging in adventure games is associated with increased white matter and more mature brains. We were also surprised to learn that except for the slightly higher levels of dangerous participation, the increase in white matter in the brain does not have much difference between men and women. '
He also suggested that complex skills needed to be able to do adult-like things.
According to him, society is now very different from 100 years ago. In the old days, people wanted children to work to support their families but now they do not want adolescents to take adult-like actions unless they turn 20, when they have completed their studies and have be a stable career.
He argues that more research is needed to determine if early development of the brain causes people to engage in risky behaviors, or risky behaviors that will make the brain grow faster.
According to the CDC report, every year 27,000 people die between the ages of 10 and 24 due to the wrong decisions of the US government. In addition, the interval between adolescence (from 15 to 19) is the time when children are able to start risky behaviors such as taking stimulants, drug abuse or driving on the road.
The study also has the contributions of Sara Moore, Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Science, Emory Medical University and Professor C. Monica Capra, Faculty of Economics and Center for Neurology, University Emory.
The study was supported by the National Research Institute on Drug Abuse.
Reference documents:
Berns et al.Adolescent Engagement in Dangerous Behaviors Is Associated with Increased White Matter Maturity of Frontal Cortex.PLoS ONE, 2009;4 (8): e6773 DOI: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0006773