Problem Gambling & the Adolescent Brain

Oregon Problem Gambling Services;Material from Dr. Ken Winters & Dr.

Jon Grant

Adolescence is a period of profound brain maturation.

We thought brain development was complete by adolescence

We now know… maturation is not complete until about

age 24!!!

An Immature Brain = Less Brakes on the “Go” System

• Growth of the brain’s nerve cells (neurons) occurs through late childhood •1,000,000,000,000,000 possible

connections.

• Around 11 – GIRLS; 12½ - BOYS:•Some of these connections

are pruned off and remaining ones are strengthened.

Construction Ahead

• When the pruning is complete, the brain is faster and more efficient.

•But… during the pruning process, the brain is not functioning at full capacity

Construction Ahead

Motivation

Emotion

Judgment

Cerebellum

Amygdala

Nucleus Accumbens

Neurological maturation starts at the back of the brain, and moves to the front

Prefrontal Cortex

Physical coordination

Notice: Judgment is last to develop!

Judgment Gets Betterwith Age

• By age 18, the adolescent’s judgement for structured challenges is roughly equal to that of adults.

• But judgement that involves resisting impulses or delaying gratification is still under construction during late adolescence and early adulthood.

The dopamine system is more robust duringadolescence than in adulthood

• novel stimuli trigger firing of dopamine; the experience is rewarded by a dopamine burst

• Compared to adults, the robust dopamine system of

adolescence will contribute to a more heightened reward experience in the face of novel stimuli

We can infer...….• Preference for physical activity• Preference for high excitement and

low effort activities• Preference for novelty• Poor planning and judgment• Minimal consideration of negative

consequences • More risky, impulsive behaviors

• Some evidence that being in a group accentuates risk taking

Implications of “Arrested Development” for Adolescent Behavior

2. Neuro-development

1. Background

• youth in general• ADHD youth

3. Neurodevelopment and gambling

Does normal brain development contribute to adolescent susceptibility to gambling?

INDIRECT SUPPORT:

1. > risk taking (particularly in groups) (gambling?)

2. > propensity toward low effort - high excitement activities (gambling?)

3. < capacity for good judgment & weighing consequences (gambling?)

4. > sensitivity to novel stimuli (gambling?)