Neural responses to exclusion predict susceptibility to social influence.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Social influence is prominent across the lifespan, but sensitivity to influence is especially high during adolescence and is often associated with increased risk taking. Such risk taking can have dire consequences. For example, in American adolescents, traffic-related crashes are leading causes of nonfatal injury and death. Neural measures may be especially useful in understanding the basic mechanisms of adolescents' vulnerability to peer influence.

Methods

We examined neural responses to social exclusion as potential predictors of risk taking in the presence of peers in recently licensed adolescent drivers. Risk taking was assessed in a driving simulator session occurring approximately 1 week after the neuroimaging session.

Results

Increased activity in neura

SUBMITTER: Falk EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4144831 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature