Teens’ Risk-Seeking Behavior Linked to Increased Brain Stimulation: Study

Research explains why teens behave the way they do.

Doing dare-devil acts, risky behaviors like drinking, smoking, having unprotected sex with multiple partners, violence and drug abuse are seen as teen rebelliousness. A new study by Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas, Dallas, found increased activation in some brain areas is responsible for making youngsters more emotional and misleading them to seek thrill and adventure from dangerous activities, reports the Daily Mail.

The experts conducted brain imaging tests in 36 participants aged between 12 and 17 to note differences in brain structures that influenced their risk-taking behaviors. They observed rebellious teens had higher stimulation in amygdala and prefontal cortex that justified too much emotional reactivity and urge to indulge in activities that gratified their desire for reward. These areas were also associated with critical thinking and emotional regulation.

"Our brains have an emotional-regulation network that exists to govern emotions and influence decision-making. Antisocial or risk-seeking behaviour may be associated with an imbalance in this network," said Sam Dewitt, study author and researcher at the University of Texas, reports the Financial Express.

The authors believe the study results will help in devising methods to prevent negative repercussions of reckless behavior and teenage rebellion.

"Our findings are crucial in that they help identify potential brain biomarkers that, when taken into context with behavioural differences, may help identify which adolescents are at risk for dangerous and pathological behaviours in the future," Dewitt adds.

More information is available in the journal Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging