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Adolescent Neurodevelopment Within the Context of Impulsivity and Substance Use

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The aim of the present review is to provide an update on recent studies examining adolescent neurodevelopment in the context of impulsivity and substance use. We provide a review of the neurodevelopmental changes in brain structure and function related to impulsivity, substance use, and their intersection.

Recent Findings

When examining brain structure, smaller gray matter volume coupled with lower white matter integrity is associated with greater impulsivity across three components: trait impulsivity, choice impulsivity, and response inhibition. Altered functional connectivity in networks including the inhibitory control network and reward processing network confers risk for greater impulsivity and substance use.

Summary

Across brain structure and function, there is evidence to suggest that overlapping areas involved in the rise in impulsivity during adolescence contribute to early substance use initiation and escalation. These overlapping neurodevelopmental correlates have promising implications for prevention and early intervention efforts for adolescent substance use.

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Funding

RG was supported by a training grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (T32 AA007474-35). LRM was also supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as a pre-doctoral trainee (F31 AA029295).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    ReJoyce Green & Lindsay M. Squeglia

  2. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Lindsay R. Meredith

  3. Matilda Centre for Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Louise Mewton

Authors
  1. ReJoyce Green
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  2. Lindsay R. Meredith
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  3. Louise Mewton
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  4. Lindsay M. Squeglia
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Correspondence to ReJoyce Green.

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Conflict of Interest

LRM reported consulting for Friends Research Institute Inc. RG, LRM, and LMS reported receiving grant support from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). All other authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Green, R., Meredith, L.R., Mewton, L. et al. Adolescent Neurodevelopment Within the Context of Impulsivity and Substance Use. Curr Addict Rep 10, 166–177 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00485-4

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