Social re-orientation and brain development: An expanded and updated view.

Social development has been the focus of a great deal of neuroscience based research over the past decade. In this review, we focus on providing a framework for understanding how changes in facets of social development may correspond with changes in brain function. We argue that (1) distinct phases of social behavior emerge based on whether the organizing social force is the mother, peer play, peer integration, or romantic intimacy; (2) each phase is marked by a high degree of affect-driven motivation that elicits a distinct response in subcortical structures; (3) activity generated by these structures interacts with circuits in prefrontal cortex that guide executive functions, and occipital and temporal lobe circuits, which generate specific sensory and perceptual social representations. We propose that the direction, magnitude and duration of interaction among these affective, executive, and perceptual systems may relate to distinct sensitive periods across development that contribute to establishing long-term patterns of brain function and behavior

Increased moral condemnation of accidental harm in institutionalized adolescents

Social deprivation, as faced by children in institutional rearing, involves socio-cognitive deficits that may persist into adolescence. In particular, two relevant domains which prove sensitive to pre-adult neurodevelopment are theory of mind (ToM) and moral judgment (a complex skill which partially depend upon ToM). However, no study has assessed moral evaluation in adolescents with a history of institutional care, let alone its relationship with ToM skills. The present study aims to bridge this gap, focusing on moral evaluation of harmful actions in institutionalized adolescents (IAs). Relative to adolescents raised with their biological families, IAs exhibited less willingness to exculpate protagonists for accidental harms, suggesting an under-reliance on information about a person’s (innocent) intentions. Moreover, such abnormalities in IAs were associated with ToM impairments. Taken together, our findings extend previous findings of delayed ToM under social deprivation, further showing that the development of moral cognition is also vulnerable to the impact of institutionalization. These results could pave the way for novel research on the role of institutional rearing in ToM and moral development during adolescence.Fil: Baez, Sandra. Universidad de los Andes; ColombiaFil: Herrera, Eduar. Universidad Icesi; ColombiaFil: García, Adolfo Martín. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional. Fundación Ineco Rosario Sede del Incyt | Instituto de Neurología Cognitiva. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional. Fundación Ineco Rosario Sede del Incyt | Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional. Fundación Ineco Rosario Sede del Incyt; ArgentinaFil: Huepe, David. Universidad Adolfo Ibañez; ChileFil: Santamaría-García, Hernando. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana; Colombia. Hospital Universitario San Ignacio; ColombiaFil: Ibáñez Barassi, Agustín Mariano. Universidad Autónoma del Caribe; Colombia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional. Fundación Ineco Rosario Sede del Incyt | Instituto de Neurología Cognitiva. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional. Fundación Ineco Rosario Sede del Incyt | Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional. Fundación Ineco Rosario Sede del Incyt; Argentina. Universidad Adolfo Ibañez; Chile. Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders; Australi

Sprint-based exercise and cognitive function in adolescents.

Moderate intensity exercise has been shown to enhance cognition in an adolescent population, yet the effect of high-intensity sprint-based exercise remains unknown and was therefore examined in the present study. Following ethical approval and familiarisation, 44 adolescents (12.6 ± 0.6 y) completed an exercise (E) and resting (R) trial in a counter-balanced, randomised crossover design. The exercise trial comprised of 10 × 10 s running sprints, interspersed by 50 s active recovery (walking). A battery of cognitive function tests (Stroop, Digit Symbol Substitution (DSST) and Corsi blocks tests) were completed 30 min pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise and 45 min post-exercise. Data were analysed using mixed effect models with repeated measures. Response times on the simple level of the Stroop test were significantly quicker 45 min following sprint-based exercise (R: 818 ± 33 ms, E: 772 ± 26 ms; p = 0.027) and response times on the complex level of the Stroop test were quicker immediately following the sprint-based exercise (R: 1095 ± 36 ms, E: 1043 ± 37 ms; p = 0.038), while accuracy was maintained. Sprint-based exercise had no immediate or delayed effects on the number of items recalled on the Corsi blocks test (p = 0.289) or substitutions made during the DSST (p = 0.689). The effect of high intensity sprint-based exercise on adolescents' cognitive function was dependant on the component of cognitive function examined. Executive function was enhanced following exercise, demonstrated by improved response times on the Stroop test, whilst visuo-spatial memory and general psycho-motor speed were unaffected. These data support the inclusion of high-intensity sprint-based exercise for adolescents during the school day to enhance cognition

Young People and Digital Intimacies. What is the evidence and what does it mean? Where next?

The digital age makes new forms of connection possible, enabling ‘digital intimacies’ including the many practices of communicating, producing and sharing intimate content (‘sexting’; selfies; making, viewing and circulating sexual content; using hook-up apps; and searching online for advice about sex). Where young people engage in digital intimacies, policymakers have tended to respond with alarm and commissioned research premised on demonstrating negative outcomes. Young people’s take up of technologies is contrasted with previous generations and ideas of ‘healthy’, ‘natural’ and ‘normal’ sexual development which ignores and marginalises diversity of sexuality and sexual expression, and leads to campaigns that seek to supervise and regulate youth sexuality. This in turn results in legislation and censorship with consequences including blocking websites for sexual abuse support and sexual education. The government has suspended introduction of Age Verification for pornographic websites but is pressing ahead with its ‘Online Harms’ White Paper which plans for broader and more comprehensive regulatory frameworks in the interests of protecting children and young people in online spaces. The UK government has positioned itself as a world leader in developing new regulatory approaches to tackle online harms but the evidence base for those approaches is neither robust nor nuanced enough to respond to the increasing mediatisation of everyday life and sexual identity. This briefing advocates for a broader recognition of young people’s investments in digital intimacies, acknowledging what growing up and learning about sex in the digital age means for young people in order to inform future policy and practice. Policies that are informed by robust research and understandings that accommodate the nuanced practices of digital intimacy will provide the support that young people need and deserve as they navigate their media lives, develop awareness of ethical and unethical behaviour, and what is right for them

Improving cognition in school children and adolescents through exergames. A systematic review and practical guide

Recent studies and reviews have shown the positive effects of exergames (EXs) on physical activity (PA) and fitness in children and adolescents. Nevertheless, their effects on cognition have been scarcely explored, and no previous review has focussed on this relationship. The purpose of the research reported on here was to analyse the acute and chronic effects of the use of different EXs on the cognition of young people aged 6 to 18 years, to review potential confounders, and to elaborate a practical guide to using EXs in schools or extracurricular contexts. Studies were identified from 4 databases (Pubmed, SportDiscus, ProQuest and Web of Science) from January 2008 through January 2018. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. All the studies showed a positive effect of EXs on cognition. The review showed an acute improvement effect on executive functions (EFs) (visual attention, mental processing, working memory, response inhibition, and motor planning) and chronic benefits on mathematical calculation, self-concept, classroom behaviour, and on parental and interpersonal relationships. Only 5 studies used confounders. EXs are an effective and motivating tool to improve cognition in young people aged 6 to 18 years. Didactic recommendations to use EXs in school or extracurricular contexts are provided in this article. Keywords: academic performance; active video games; acute and chronic effects; cognitive performance; executive functions;  exergames; learning; motivation; physical activity; physical educatio

Digital media inhibit self-regulatory private speech use in preschool children: The “digital bubble effect”

Preschoolers spend much time with digital media and some are concerned about impacts on language development. Private speech (PS) is self-talk children use during play, representing a necessary form of self-regulation. This study examined whether modality (material vs. digital) matters for children's PS. Twenty-nine White 5-yr-olds (52% female) completed the Tower of London task twice - once as a material version and once on a tablet. Children used more PS on the material than digital version of the task (d=0.46). During the material task, the typical pattern of increased PS as difficulty increased appeared. However, during the digital task, PS declined as difficulty increased. Digital games may inhibit children's use of PS for self-regulation, having implications for executive function development

Relações entre o tipo de esporte praticado e as funções executivas de controle em crianças e adolescentes: uma revisão sistemática

In recent years a division of executive functions into hot and cold has been proposed. Cold ones refer to cognitive functioning in decontextualized and affectively neutral situations, evaluating dimensions such as working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. Instead, hot ones would refer to the capacity for self-regulation in contexts with emotional and motivational implications. Several studies have highlighted, the impact of sports on the development of executive functioning, although few studies have jointly analyzed both dimensions. This systematic review aimed to analyze existing studies that jointly analyze the impact of sport on both dimensions of executive functioning in adolescents. A systematic review using the PRISMA method has been carried out to achieve this objective. The databases consulted were Web Of Science (WOS), Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, and CSIC indexes, between 2000 and 2023. Finally, 8 articles were included in the review. The results revealed significant relationships between sports and executive functions, especially in open sports such as soccer or field hockey being more relevant than closed modalities such as athletics or martial arts. These findings are of great interest as they could be significant to promoting a particular type of sport like open sports during cognitive development of children and adolescentsEn los últimos años, se ha propuesto una división de las funciones ejecutivas en frías y calientes. Las frías se refieren al funcionamiento cognitivo en situaciones descontextualizadas y afectivamente neutras, evaluando dimensiones como la memoria de trabajo, el control inhibitorio y la flexibilidad cognitiva. En cambio, las funciones calientes se refieren a la capacidad de autorregulación en contextos con implicaciones emocionales y motivacionales. Varios estudios han destacado el impacto del deporte en el desarrollo de las funciones ejecutivas, aunque pocos estudios han analizado conjuntamente ambas dimensiones. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática fue analizar los estudios existentes que analizan conjuntamente el impacto del deporte en ambas dimensiones de las funciones ejecutivas en adolescentes. Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática utilizando el método PRISMA para lograr este objetivo. Las bases de datos consultadas fueron Web Of Science (WOS), Scopus, PubMed, PsycInfo e índices del CSIC, entre 2000 y 2023. Finalmente, se incluyeron 8 artículos en la revisión. Los resultados revelaron relaciones significativas entre el deporte y las funciones ejecutivas, especialmente en deportes abiertos como el fútbol o el hockey sobre césped, siendo más relevantes que las modalidades cerradas como el atletismo o las artes marciales. Estos hallazgos son de gran interés ya que podrían ser significativos para promover un tipo particular de deporte como los deportes abiertos durante el desarrollo cognitivo de niños y adolescentes.Nos últimos anos, foi proposta uma divisão das funções executivas em quentes e frias. As frias referem-se ao funcionamento cognitivo em situações descontextualizadas e afetivamente neutras, avaliando dimensões como memória de trabalho, controle inibitório e flexibilidade cognitiva. Em vez disso, as quentes referem-se à capacidade de autorregulação em contextos com implicações emocionais e motivacionais. Vários estudos destacaram o impacto dos esportes no desenvolvimento das funções executivas, embora poucos tenham analisado conjuntamente ambas as dimensões. O objetivo desta revisão sistemática foi analisar estudos existentes que investigam o impacto do esporte em ambas as dimensões do funcionamento executivo em adolescentes. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática utilizando o método PRISMA para atingir esse objetivo. As bases de dados consultadas foram Web Of Science (WOS), Scopus, PubMed, PsycInfo e índices CSIC, entre 2000 e 2023. Finalmente, foram incluídos na revisão 8 artigos. Os resultados revelaram relações significativas entre esportes e funções executivas, especialmente em esportes abertos como futebol ou hóquei de campo, sendo mais relevantes do que modalidades fechadas como atletismo ou artes marciais. Esses achados são de grande interesse, pois podem ser significativos para promover um tipo específico de esporte como esportes abertos durante o desenvolvimento cognitivo de crianças e adolescentes

The use of humor by an adolescent with autism spectrum disorder

The aim of this study was to describe the humor use by an 11-year-old adolescent with ASD. Through an iterative coding process to identify a successful, unsuccessful, and neutral rating of instances of humor, we describe how does an adolescent with ASD uses humor and the functions humor serves in his interactions with a friend. We describe the personal and environmental factors that support the successful use of humor. The adolescent used two main types of humor (self-initiated and environmentally-initiated), consisting of two forms (verbal and physical). We describe 12 main behavioral indicators to identify the instances of humor. Humor appeared to sever as a means of engaging his friend and he appeared to be most successful in using humor with his friend when in a familiar environment and engaging in a familiar activity. The implications for future research are discussed

Young people and sexting in Australia: ethics, representation and the law

The Young People and Sexting in Australia report presents the findings of a qualitative study of young people’s understandings of, and responses to, current Australian laws, media and educational resources that address sexting. The project, led by Dr Kath Albury involved a review of both international local and academic research as well as popular media addressing sexting, and a review of educational resources for young people. Three focus groups were conducted with young people aged 16 and 17 in 2012, and a working paper based on those findings was then distributed to adult stakeholders in the fields of law enforcement, youth and children’s legal support, education, criminology, media and communications, youth work, youth health care, counseling and youth health promotion