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Brain

maturation

and risk behavior among

young

drivers

International Traffic Medicine AssociationAD Den Haag 26-29 April, 2009

Dagfinn Moe SINTEF

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Two

girls, 18 years

old, are

on their

way

to school ca 0815 am

in a Golf 1990 model

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Four young people (4) were killed and one (1) seriously injured in a head on accident between a Golf 1990 model and a heavy vehicle

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The understanding

of driving behavior”inter-

and multidisciplinarity”

R&D Driver Behavior

•Accident

analysis•Behavioral

studies

•Psychological

testing•Surveys

•Interviews

R&DBrain

and Behavior

NeurobiologyMaturation-

development

Learning-memory

systems

fMRI-neuroimaging

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Prof. Jay Giedd

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Adolescent

brain development canbe divided

into

four

processes:

(Giedd-2006, Steinberg-2008, Toga-2006)

ProliferationRapid growth

of brain matter and the formation

of

new

connections

within

the brain

PruningCutting

away

of unused

or unimportant

connections

MyelinationInsulating

of brain pathways

and connections

to make them

faster and more stable

Remodeling

of the dopaminergic

systemThere

is a redistribution

of dopamine

concentration

around

puberty

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Brain maturation 5 Brain maturation 5 ––

20 year20 yearGogtay, Giedd, et al. (2004) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA

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”CEO”Chief Executive Officer

Auditory,vestibular

Vision

Sensory

cortex,Space

Association

Motor cortex,muscle

activation

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•Learning•Memory•Emotion

THE LIMBIC SYSTEM

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Puberty(oxytocin-friends)

Remodelling(dopamin-reward)

A social

neuoroscience perspectiveon adolescent

risk-taking

(L. Steinberg, Temple

University, Philadelphia-2008)

Cognitive

control functions”prefrontal cortex”

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Rat

e of

Mat

urat

ion

adolescent

limbic/amygdala

prefrontal cortex

Galvan et al 2006 Developmental Science

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Conclusions about Frontal Lobe Immaturity

1. Poor judgment and difficulty thinking through consequences of behavior

2. Impulsive and emotional responses rather than logical and practical ones

3. Miscommunication with peers and adults—they miss subtle social cues, misinterpret expectations, and misread facial expressions.

4. Increased risk-taking; inappropriate actions not as inhibited as in adults

Adolescence is generally a period of increased impulsivity and risk-taking behaviour, but some teens might be

especially prone to engage in such behaviours.

Galvan et al. (2007)

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I think

neuroscience can

contribute

to a more completeunderstanding

of young

drivers behavior

Thank

you for your

attention!