Development of the motivational system during adolescence, and its sensitivity to disruption by nicotine

D.S. Counotte, A.B. Smit, T. Pattij, S. Spijker

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Abstract

The brain continues to develop during adolescence, and exposure to exogenous substances such as nicotine can exert long-lasting adaptations during this vulnerable period. In order to fully understand how nicotine affects the adolescent brain it is important to understand normal adolescent brain development. This review summarizes human and animal data on brain development, with emphasis on the prefrontal cortex, for its important function in executive control over behavior. Moreover, we discuss how nicotine exposure during adolescence can disrupt brain development bearing long-term consequences on executive cognitive function in adulthood. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)430-443
JournalDevelopmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Volume1
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

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