1. Problem Gambling & the Adolescent Brain
Oregon Problem Gambling Services;
Material from Dr. Ken Winters & Dr. Jon Grant

2. 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!!!

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

4. Construction Ahead
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.

5. 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

6. Neurological maturation starts at the back of the brain, and moves to the front
Amygdala
Judgment
Emotion
Motivation
Physical coordination
Prefrontal Cortex
Nucleus Accumbens
NA = regulates motivation to seek rewards
Amygdala = emotional processing center; evaluates relative pleasure vs aversiveness
PFC = planning; setting priorities; organizing thoughts; suppressing impulses; weighing consequences of one’s actions
Cerebellum
Notice: Judgment is last to develop!

7. Judgment Gets Better with 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.

8.  The dopamine system is more robust during
adolescence 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

9. Implications of “Arrested Development” for Adolescent Behavior
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

10. 3. Neurodevelopment and gambling
1. Background
2. Neuro-
development
3. Neurodevelopment
and gambling
youth in general
ADHD youth

11. Does normal brain development contribute to adolescent susceptibility to gambling?
INDIRECT SUPPORT:
> risk taking (particularly in groups) (gambling?)
> propensity toward low effort - high excitement activities (gambling?)
< capacity for good judgment & weighing consequences (gambling?)
> sensitivity to novel stimuli (gambling?)