The guys over 'crazy' have more signs of brain maturity

The guys over 'crazy' have more signs of brain maturity

Adolescents with risky behaviors are more developed white matter
Scientists believe that in the future may predict which children will be imprudent

The boys and girls to be 'put to the eyebrows' all are, a priori, more immature. Unfortunately, the drugs also fall (much) more mature, adult head 'well furnished'. However, data from a new job has left some gaping the perpetrators to discover that adolescent risk behaviors are signs of increased brain maturation. Specifically, they are more white matter [that is responsible for transmitting information from one point to another] in the front area of the brain than their more conservative counterparts.

Thanks to new imaging techniques, we now know that the brain matures during adolescence and gradually reaches its not 'adult form' until the mid 20s. Specifically, one of the brain areas that takes longer to fully develop is the prefrontal cortex, which plays an important role in executive function, self-regulation of behavior and the organization of thought ... Ultimately, the area responsible for making informed decisions.

"Each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta [U.S.], 27,000 people ages 10 to 24 years die due to 'bad decisions'. The first cause is accidents, homicides and then ultimately suicide" enter Brens Gregory, Department of Psychiatry at Emory University (USA) and author of the study. For this specialist, "although no one is immune to making wrong decisions, adolescents and younger adults appear to accommodate much higher percentage of them."

The 'justification', until now, risky and foolish actions of this sector of the population has relied on hormonal changes, brain immaturity or the lack of development of cognitive skills and emotional. But the new paradox is published in the latest issue of 'PLoS ONE'.



Dangerous Games

Scientists chose to 91 teenagers between 12 and 18 who underwent tensor imaging [DTI, its acronym in English] Magnetic Resonance. This technique allows quantification of the "architecture" of the white matter. To 'identify' potential 'reckless acts', scientists are also subjected to the Adolescent Risk Questionnaire, which consists of 22 questions, like taking drugs, having sex or going to risk driving under the influence of alcohol or without a license driving.

All participants, who were diagnosed with no previous mental illness and was not taking any medication, were followed over three years when they were practicing more imaging. The data reveal that precisely the kids who were more risk behaviors were "those who were more mature brain, the researchers clarified.

"Adolescents who are more risk attitudes are more impulsive and seek further experience new sensations but also are the most mature have white matter of the frontal brain," he added.

And they doubt if the 'prematurity' in this development is what triggers the precocity in risky behavior or vice versa. "There are still many questions to be resolved so that should be doing more work with imaging techniques that can predict the future involvement of the kids in risky activities and to resolve the role played in them, biology, development cognitive control and life experiences, the study determined.

This future is near, according to Dr., San Sebastian, "given that impulsivity is the best known risk factor of risk behaviors and, therefore, can help predict which boys or girls are going to adopt risky behaviors. For So, yes it is very likely that with imaging techniques can 'get ahead' and identify those most likely to commit reckless acts. "