(September 1, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Adolescents who engage in risky behavior are actually likely to have brains that are more mature than their cautious counterparts, according to research published in the August 26 issue of PLoS ONE.
Some very
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risky activities that are currently popular among adolescents include:
• The "choking game", in which children cut off oxygen to their own or someone else's brain until they pass out
• "Car surfing", in which the child balances on the hood or roof of a moving vehicle
• Carrying or brandishing weapons, including guns and knives
Researchers from Emory University in Atlanta used a type of brain imaging technique known as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to measure the level of brain maturation of nearly 100 adolescents aged 12 to 18 over a three year period. The researchers also surveyed the teens about how much they engage in risky behavior such as thrill seeking; recklessness; rebelliousness, and antisocial behaviors.
Those who engaged in the most risky behavior were more likely to have highly developed white matter, which is a sign of a more mature brain. There were no differences between the boys and girls with respect to brain maturation, although the boys were slightly more likely to engage in risky behavior.
Today's research calls into question the theory that adolescents and young adults engage in impulsive and risky behaviors because their brains are not fully mature.
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