Sex differences in reward network activation are linked to problematic substance use among high-risk adolescents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adolescents with externalizing (EXT) disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder-characterized by impulsivity and rule-breaking, are at elevated risk for substance use disorders (SUDs), partly due to deficits in risky decision-making. Sex differences in this association are understudied. Neuroimaging research shows females and males with EXT disorders exhibit different brain activation patterns during risky decisions. This study will explore how these sex differences relate to the development of problematic substance use in youth with EXT disorders.

Method

A total of 115 (78 males, 37 females) drug-naive adolescents with EXT psychopathology performed the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) during magnetic resonance imaging to ass

SUBMITTER: Murray OK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12711589 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature