Adolescence is a critical stage of growth, a time when young people begin to make their own independent choices in preparation for adulthood. However, it is also a time of vulnerability, especially ...

Until recently, the prevailing belief was that brain development ceased at around the time a child entered kindergarten (i.e., that the brain is 90-95% formed by age six). However, recent findings ...

Adolescent substance use is a significant predictor of future addiction and related disorders. Understanding neural mechanisms underlying substance use initiation and frequency during adolescence is ...

A novel study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier, shows that by tracking year-to-year changes in brain connectivity underlying cognitive control, ...

Those who grew up when Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) pamphlets were common in the school counselor's office are probably familiar with the “gateway drug” theory, which suggests the use of ...

This post was coauthored by Gabriella P. Oettinger and Juan M. Dominguez, Ph.D. As we begin the new school year, the importance of understanding the challenges and risks that students face becomes ...

Studies in adolescent animals suggest that some components of the developing serotonergic system respond to SSRI treatment in a similar fashion to the adult system. For example, chronic (over 22 days) ...

This summer, many parents find themselves caught between excitement and anxiety as they help their college-bound children prepare for the next chapter in their lives. There’s the practical preparation ...

New research suggests that social media isn’t just feeding your kid the latest memes — it may actually be messing with their ...

Data from a large, ongoing study of adolescents shows a link between increasing social media use and lower cognition and ...