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Brain maturation and

risk behavior

TISPOLLONDON 6th. April 2009

Dagfinn Moe (dagfinn.moe@sintef.no)Senior Research Scientist

SINTEF NORWAY

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Road conditions

Traffic situation

Vehicle

Neurobiology

Inter-aktion

”The truth about the accident” (What – How – Why)

Sociology Psychology

Human Factors

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functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

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BAC:0,19 BAC: 0,14

fMRI-group in Bergen 2008The effect of alcohol on working memory

(Gundersen, Grüner, Specht and Hugdahl-2008)

Sober BAC: 0,08

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Maturation and

learning

Gogtay, Giedd, et al. (2004) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA

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Adolescent brain development can be divided into four processes:

(Giedd-2006,Toga-2006 Steinberg-2008)

ProliferationRapid growth of brain matter and new connections

Pruning Cutting away of unused or unimportant connections

MyelinationInsulating of connections to make them faster and more stable

Remodeling of the dopamin and oxytocin systemsThere is a redistribution

of dopamine and oxytocin concentration around puberty

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PRUNING AND MYELINATION”building superhighways”

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•Learning•Memory•Emotion

THE LIMBIC SYSTEM – EMOTIONAL BRAIN”heaven and hell”

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Rat

e of

Mat

urat

ion

adolescent

“emotional” brain

“thinking” brain

Galvan et al 2006 Developmental Science

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The battle between the emotional and the thinking brain

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Criminal

safety belt

drugs-speeding

KvinneMann

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Men 18-25

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Adolescence is generally a period of increased impulsivity and risk-taking behaviour, but some teens might be

especially prone to engage in such behaviours.

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