Brain
-
Neuroanatomical Variability and Early Substance Use Initiation: Insights from the ABCD Study
Adolescence is a period of rapid brain development, making it a sensitive window for experiences that may shape long-term outcomes. A new study from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) project examined whether neuroanatomical variability is linked to early initiation of alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis. Drawing on baseline brain images taken before substance use began, the researchers found regionally specific differences in cortical thickness and surface area among early initiators. The findings highlight the complexity of adolescent neurodevelopment and point to the value of large-scale, longitudinal studies in clarifying how brain structure and behaviour unfold together.
Read more -
Substance use and the adolescent brain
Depending on the substance, they impact health in various ways, both in the short and long term, with some of the most profound effects occurring during adolescence.
- Event type
- Introductory and Update Session
- Location
- LIVE STREAM
-
Neurodiversity: Cutting-Edge Research, Evolving Perspectives, and Effective Innovations – 2025 Jack Tizard Memorial International Conference
BOOKINGS CLOSED
- Event type
- Jack Tizard Memorial International Conference
- Location
- LIVE STREAM
-
Eating Disorders: A Concern for All
Did you know that approximately 22% of children and adolescents worldwide show disordered eating? Eating Disorders Awareness Week (24 February – 2 March 2025) is an opportunity to improve awareness that anyone can have an eating disorder and explore the impact that eating disorders can have on children and young people.
This Eating Disorder Awareness Week, we encourage you to explore the FREE learning opportunities available on our website and ACAMH Learn, and to share with your networks.
Read more -
Brain differences in children who show symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of children showing symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) show differences in certain brain regions relative to children without ARFID symptoms. Findings from this work serve to improve our general understanding of ARFID and may help inform on ARFID-related services or our understanding of ARFID.
Read more -
EEG data might help identify children at risk for social anxiety
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive method to monitor the electrical activity of the brain. There are five main broad frequency bands in the EEG power spectrum: alpha, beta, gamma, delta and theta. Data suggest that EEG-derived delta–beta coupling — indicating related activity in the delta and beta frequency bands — might serve as a marker of emotion regulation.
Read more -
Progressive cortical thinning might identify children at risk of developing psychotic spectrum symptoms
Offspring of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have an increased risk of developing these conditions. However, our capacity to predict the long-term outcomes of these at-risk individuals is limited. Now, researchers have investigated whether longitudinal changes in brain structure differ in individuals at high familial risk who develop psychotic spectrum symptoms, compared to those who do not and to low-risk controls.
Read more -
Emotional abuse during childhood is linked with differences in brain structure
Delia Gheorghe and colleagues at the University of Oxford have harnessed data from the UK Biobank to delineate the relationship between adverse experiences and brain structure. The researchers accessed brain imaging data together with retrospective reports of childhood adversity and adulthood partner abuse from more than 6,000 adults (mean age, 62.1 years).
Read more -
Mothers’ prenatal BMI is linked with foetal brain connectivity
New data suggest that a high maternal prenatal body mass index (BMI) is associated with differences in functional connectivity in the foetal brain that might confer a risk of mental health and cognitive problems in childhood.
Read more -
Do brain function abnormalities lead to substance use, or vice versa?
New research has, for the first time, investigated the direction of links between brain function and substance use throughout adolescence. Jungmeen Kim-Spoon and colleagues studied 167 adolescents who were assessed annually for four years from 13-14 years old.
Read more