Effects of reward sensitivity and regional brain volumes on substance use initiation in adolescence.

ABSTRACT: This longitudinal study examines associations between baseline individual differences and developmental changes in reward [i.e. behavioral approach system (BAS)] sensitivity and relevant brain structures' volumes to prospective substance use initiation during adolescence. A community sample of adolescents ages 15-18 with no prior substance use was assessed for substance use initiation (i.e. initiation of regular alcohol use and/or any use of other substances) during a 2-year follow-up period and for alcohol use frequency in the last year of the follow-up. Longitudinal 'increases' in BAS sensitivity were associated with substance use initiation and increased alcohol use frequency during the follow-up. Moreover, adolescents with smaller left nucleus accumbens at baseline were more likely to

SUBMITTER: Urosevic S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4471534 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature