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Cited by 274Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Dopaminergic reward sensitivity can promote adolescent health: a new perspective on the mechanism of ventral striatum activation

Open access
Telzer, Eva H.·2016·Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
DOI 10.1016/j.dcn.2015.10.010PMC PMC4727991
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Abstract

The prevailing view in the field of adolescent brain development is that heightened activity in the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward system serves as a liability, orienting adolescents toward risky behaviors, increasing their sensitivity to social evaluation and loss, and resulting in compromised well-being. Several findings inconsistent with this deficit view challenge the perspective that adolescent reward sensitivity largely serves as a liability and highlights the potential adaptive function that heightened striatal reactivity can serve. The goal of this review is to refine our understanding of dopaminergic reward sensitivity in adolescence. I review several studies showing that ventral striatum activation serves an adaptive function for adolescents' health and well being relating to declines in both risk taking and depression and increases in cognitive persistence and achievement.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review argues that adolescent ventral striatum/dopaminergic reward sensitivity is not only a liability but can also promote health when directed toward prosocial, cognitive, or regulatory contexts. It synthesizes fMRI and longitudinal studies showing that heightened ventral striatum activation can predict declines in risk taking and depression and increases in cognitive persistence and achievement.

Key findings

  • Ventral striatum activation during costly prosocial decisions to family predicted longitudinal declines in risk-taking behaviors (e.g., stealing, drinking alcohol, using drugs, skipping school) over one year, and greater prosocial activation was associated with less ventral striatum activation during a risk-taking task.
  • Ventral striatum activation to prosocial decisions predicted longitudinal declines in depressive symptoms, whereas activation when keeping earnings for oneself or during risk taking predicted longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms.
  • In a simulated driving task, adolescents made more risky decisions when alone (55%) than when their mother was present (45%); with mother present, ventral striatum was less active during risky decisions and more active during safe decisions, with ventral striatum–VLPFC functional coupling during safe decisions only when mother was present.
  • Rewarded trials improved inhibitory control in adolescents, and studies of intrinsic motivation found that ventral striatum activation scaled with task difficulty and correlated with working memory performance; Chinese students showed increasing ventral striatum activation and ventral striatum–PFC connectivity over a cognitive control task, whereas American students did not.

Methods

  • Narrative review synthesizing prior animal, human developmental neuroscience, and fMRI studies on adolescent reward processing and ventral striatum function.
  • Reviewed evidence includes longitudinal fMRI studies, cross-cultural comparisons, simulated driving tasks, prosocial donation tasks, risk-taking tasks (e.g., BART), working memory tasks, and cognitive control tasks (e.g., Go–Nogo, antisaccade).
  • Main analysis is conceptual synthesis, not a systematic review or meta-analysis; the paper uses cited findings to propose an adaptive framework for dopaminergic reward sensitivity.

Limitations

  • The paper explicitly notes the problem of reverse inference: inferring reward from ventral striatum activation alone is limited because the ventral striatum is involved in motor control, learning, habit formation, skill learning, reward-related learning, and aversion/punishment, and other regions and neurochemistry also code reward.
  • The paper states that fMRI cannot differentiate precise boundaries or heterogeneities in the human striatum, BOLD signal does not directly measure neurochemistry, the relation between BOLD activation and striatal dopamine release remains unclear, and most neuroimaging uses large smoothing kernels that make subdividing the ventral striatum difficult.
  • The paper states that the body of work on adaptive ventral striatum function is nascent and requires replication, and that individual and cultural differences mean not all striatal activation is adaptive; evident from the text, this is a narrative review rather than a systematic or meta-analytic synthesis.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.dcn.2015.10.010

Cites

116 of 116 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 115 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    This functional connectivity was associated with behavioral performance on the task.

    “Importantly, this functional connectivity was associated with behavioral performance on the task, showing that greater VS-PFC connectivity facilitated improvements in cognitive engagement.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Chinese students showed increasing functional connectivity between the ventral striatum and the prefrontal cortex across time, connectivity that was not present in the American students.

    “In addition, Chinese students showed increasing functional connectivity between the ventral striatum and the prefrontal cortex across time, connectivity that was not present in the American students.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Chinese and American students did not differ in performance at the beginning of the cognitive control task.

    “We found significant differences in behavioral performance across the cognitive control task, such that Chinese and American students did not differ in performance at the beginning of the task, suggesting similar levels of cognitive control.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationreasoning

    Ventral striatum sensitivity may represent either a vulnerability or an opportunity depending on the social and motivational context.

    “Ventral striatum sensitivity may therefore represent either a vulnerability or an opportunity depending on the social and motivational context (see Table 1).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationreasoning

    DA hyperactivation can promote adolescent health.

    “In this review, I move a step further in this conceptualization and suggest that DA hyperactivation can promote adolescent health.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 46
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 21

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Chinese participants demonstrated increasing ventral striatum activation over the course of the task, whereas American participants' ventral striatum activation remained low over the task.

    “At the neural level, Chinese participants demonstrated increasing ventral striatum activation over the course of the task, whereas American participants’ ventral striatum activation remained low over the task.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Across time, Chinese students showed significant improvement in performance whereas American students showed significant declines in performance.

    “However, across time, Chinese students showed significant improvement in performance whereas American students showed significant declines in performance (Telzer and Qu, 2015).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Telzer and Qu, 2015

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  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    In White and Latino youth performing a task involving personal sacrifices for their family, Latino participants showed more ventral striatum activation when contributing to their family, while White participants showed more ventral striatum activation when gaining personal rewards for themselves.

    “Whereas Latino participants showed more ventral striatum activation when contributing to their family, White participants showed more ventral striatum activation when gaining personal rewards for themselves.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Telzer et al., 2010 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The view that peaks in DA activity during adolescence underlie increases in risk taking and adolescent psychopathology suggests that adolescents are predisposed toward mental health problems due to hard-wired developmental constraints via altered neural processing.

    “The view that peaks in DA activity during adolescence underlie increases in risk taking and adolescent psychopathology suggests that adolescents are predisposed toward mental health problems due to hard-wired developmental constraints via altered neural processing.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Such peaks in ventral striatum activation are associated with compromised cognitive control and increased self-reported risk taking.

    “Such peaks in ventral striatum activation are associated with compromised cognitive control (Somerville et al., 2011) and increased self-reported risk taking (Galván et al., 2007).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Somerville et al., 2011 source

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    • cites Galván et al., 2007 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The ventral striatum, and the nucleus accumbens in particular, is a core node for incentive, reward-driven behaviors.

    “The ventral striatum, and the nucleus accumbens in particular, has been recognized as a core node for incentive, reward driven behaviors (see Padmanabhan and Luna, 2014, Galván, 2014).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Padmanabhan and Luna, 2014 source

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    • cites Galván, 2014

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Several findings inconsistent with the deficit view challenge the perspective that adolescent reward sensitivity largely serves as a liability and highlight the potential adaptive function that heightened striatal reactivity can serve.

    “Several findings inconsistent with this deficit view challenge the perspective that adolescent reward sensitivity largely serves as a liability and highlights the potential adaptive function that heightened striatal reactivity can serve.”
    • Also stated in: § A potential adaptive role of dopaminergic reactivity in adolescence · plain
      “Several findings inconsistent with this deficit view challenge the perspective that adolescent reward sensitivity largely serves as a liability and highlights the potential adaptive function that heightened striatal reactivity can serve.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Ventral striatum activation serves an adaptive function for adolescents' health and well-being, relating to declines in risk taking and depression and increases in cognitive persistence and achievement.

    “I review several studies showing that ventral striatum activation serves an adaptive function for adolescents’ health and well being relating to declines in both risk taking and depression and increases in cognitive persistence and achievement.”
    • Also stated in: § A potential adaptive role of dopaminergic reactivity in adolescence · plain
      “Across diverse samples and contexts, ventral striatum activation serves an adaptive function for adolescents’ health and well being, relating to declines in both risk taking and depression and increases in cognitive persistence and achievement.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Ventral striatum activation can be used as a proxy for reward processing/dopaminergic reward sensitivity despite not being synonymous with reward.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Human fMRI work has identified the ventral striatum as a key region involved in reward processing.

    “Human fMRI work has identified the ventral striatum as a key region involved in reward processing (see Delgado, 2007).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Delgado, 2007 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    An important limitation of the interpretation of the ventral striatum as coding reward is the problem of reverse inference (i.e., inferring cognitive states solely from the activation of a particular brain area).

    “However, an important limitation of the interpretation of the ventral striatum as coding reward is the problem of reverse inference (i.e., inferring cognitive states solely from the activation of a particular brain area; Poldrack, 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Poldrack, 2011 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Several compelling reviews have recently suggested that adolescent neurodevelopment is complex, and the ventral striatum is sometimes associated with adaptive outcomes.

    “Several compelling reviews have recently suggested that adolescent neurodevelopment is complex (Crone and Dahl, 2012), and the ventral striatum is sometimes associated with adaptive outcomes (Pfeifer and Allen, 2012).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Crone and Dahl, 2012 source

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    • cites Pfeifer and Allen, 2012 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The DA system undergoes significant reorganization over adolescence, which is implicated in the pathophysiology of various disorders that appear during adolescence.

    “The DA system undergoes significant reorganization over adolescence, which is implicated in the pathophysiology of various disorders that appear during adolescence (see Nelson et al., 2005, Spear, 2000, Wahlstrom et al., 2010a).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Nelson et al., 2005 source

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    • cites Spear, 2000 source

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    • cites Wahlstrom et al., 2010a

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    DA signaling may be channeled toward motivated behaviors that are highly adaptive or toward motivated behaviors that can be highly maladaptive depending on situational and contextual variables.

    “On the one hand, DA signaling may be channeled toward motivated behaviors that are highly adaptive, such as an orientation toward motivationally positive behaviors (e.g., striving for academic success, engaging in prosocial behaviors, working toward a goal). On the other hand, DA signaling may be directed toward motivated behaviors that can be highly maladaptive depending on situational and”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Other neural regions outside of the ventral striatum (e.g., VTA, vmPFC) and neurochemistry beyond dopamine (e.g., opioids) code for reward, and the ventral striatum is involved in a wide range of sensorimotor, cognitive and motivational functions.

    “Nonetheless, it is important to note that other neural regions outside of the ventral striatum (e.g., VTA, vmPFC) and neurochemistry beyond dopamine (e.g., opioids) code for reward, and the ventral striatum is involved in a wide range of sensorimotor, cognitive and motivational functions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Across diverse samples and contexts, ventral striatum activation serves an adaptive function for adolescents' health and well being, relating to declines in both risk taking and depression and increases in cognitive persistence and achievement.

    “Across diverse samples and contexts, ventral striatum activation serves an adaptive function for adolescents’ health and well being, relating to declines in both risk taking and depression and increases in cognitive persistence and achievement.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Ventral striatum activation can be used as a proxy for reward processing/dopaminergic reward sensitivity despite not being synonymous with reward.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    DA signaling supports reinforcement learning, and DA modulation of striatal and prefrontal function influences affective and motivated behaviors that are altered in adolescence.

    “DA signaling supports reinforcement learning, and DA modulation of striatal and prefrontal function influences affective and motivated behaviors that are altered in adolescence (Padmanabhan and Luna, 2014).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Padmanabhan and Luna, 2014 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Such a deficit perspective driven by biologically determined brain immaturities implies a ubiquitous, inevitability to adolescent risk taking and psychopathology that constrains our ability to intervene.

    “Such a deficit perspective driven by biologically determined brain immaturities implies a ubiquitous, inevitability to adolescent risk taking and psychopathology that constrains our ability to intervene.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    fMRI studies have shown that the ventral striatum is significantly more active among adolescents than children or adults when receiving secondary rewards, primary rewards, or social rewards, as well as in the presence of appetitive social cues.

    “fMRI studies, which allow for assessment of changes in neural systems innervated by DA, have shown that the ventral striatum is significantly more active among adolescents than children or adults when receiving secondary rewards (e.g., money; Ernst et al., 2005, Galván et al., 2006, Van Leijenhorst et al., 2010), primary rewards (e.g., sweet liquid; Galván and McGlennen, 2013), or social rewards (”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Ernst et al., 2005 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Galván et al., 2006 source

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    • cites Van Leijenhorst et al., 2010 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Rather than promoting risk taking and psychopathology, heightened striatal reactivity may actually motivate adolescents to engage in more thoughtful, positive behaviors, facilitating improved cognition, and ultimately protect them from developing depression and engaging in health-compromising risk-taking behavior.

    “Rather than promoting risk taking and psychopathology, recent evidence reveals that heightened striatal reactivity may actually motivate adolescents to engage in more thoughtful, positive behaviors, facilitating improved cognition, and ultimately protect them from developing depression and engaging in health-compromising risk-taking behavior.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    East Asian adolescents score significantly higher on cognitive control, executive functioning, and behavioral inhibition compared to their American counterparts.

    “and score significantly higher on cognitive control, executive functioning, and behavioral inhibition compared to their American counterparts (Sabbagh et al., 2006, Lan et al., 2011).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Sabbagh et al., 2006

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    • cites Lan et al., 2011

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The engagement of ventral striatum by prosocial giving indicates a "warm glow" effect, suggesting that it feels good to be prosocial.

    “This is thought to indicate a “warm glow” effect, suggesting that it feels good to be prosocial (Moll et al., 2006).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Moll et al., 2006 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Although adolescents tend to show detriments in cognitive performance, particularly in highly arousing or emotional states, adolescents actually show improved performance (i.e., inhibit prepotent responses) when they are rewarded for doing so.

    “Although adolescents tend to show detriments in cognitive performance, particularly in highly arousing or emotional states (e.g., Hare et al., 2008, Somerville et al., 2011), adolescents actually show improved performance (i.e., inhibit prepotent responses) when they are rewarded for doing so (Geier and Luna, 2009, Geier and Luna, 2012, Geier et al., 2010, Padmanabhan et al., 2011).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Hare et al., 2008 source

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    • cites Somerville et al., 2011 source

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    • cites Geier and Luna, 2009 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When participants made correct versus incorrect responses, they showed heightened ventral striatum activation, and this activation was higher for more difficult trials.

    “That is, when participants made correct versus incorrect responses, they showed heightened ventral striatum activation, striatum activation that was higher for more difficult trials.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Satterthwaite et al. (2012)

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Peaks in dopaminergic sensitivity appear to be universal in adolescence, as seen across species, contexts, and cultures.

    “Because peaks in dopaminergic sensitivity appear to be universal in adolescence, as seen across species, contexts, and cultures, my goal is to highlight ways that such dopaminergic sensitivity can be redirected toward positive, health promoting behaviors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Adolescents are particularly sensitive to rewards, and extrinsic motivation (i.e., getting money) may improve their cognitive control.

    “suggesting that adolescents are particularly sensitive to rewards, and that extrinsic motivation (i.e., getting money) may improve their cognitive control.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Heightened striatal response during selfish decisions or when being risky is a maladaptive neural response, potentially serving as a neurobiological signal that codes for an orientation toward more negative rewards and resulting in increases in depressive symptomology.

    “Heightened striatal response during selfish decisions (i.e., keeping money for oneself) or when being risky is a maladaptive neural response, potentially serving as a neurobiological signal that codes for an orientation toward more negative rewards (e.g., the thrill of being risky; heightened social threat) and resulting in increases in depressive symptomology.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Ventral striatum activation can be used as a proxy for reward processing/dopaminergic reward sensitivity despite not being synonymous with reward.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Extrinsic rewards and ventral striatum activation may act to improve behavioral regulation in adolescents.

    “suggesting that extrinsic rewards and ventral striatum activation may act to improve behavioral regulation in adolescents.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Ventral striatum activation can be used as a proxy for reward processing/dopaminergic reward sensitivity despite not being synonymous with reward.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Heightened striatal activation to prosocial behavior is an adaptive neural response, potentially serving as a neurobiological signal that codes for an orientation toward positive rewards and leading to declines in depressive symptomology.

    “Thus, heightened striatal activation to prosocial behavior is an adaptive neural response, potentially serving as a neurobiological signal that codes for an orientation toward positive rewards (e.g., feeling a sense of meaning and purpose; feeling socially connected) and leading to declines in depressive symptomology.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Ventral striatum activation can be used as a proxy for reward processing/dopaminergic reward sensitivity despite not being synonymous with reward.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescents who showed heightened ventral striatum activation when keeping earnings for themselves on the prosocial task (i.e., selfish decisions) or who showed heightened ventral striatum activation during the risk taking task experienced longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms.

    “In contrast, adolescents who showed heightened ventral striatum activation when keeping earnings for themselves on the prosocial task (i.e., selfish decisions) or who showed heightened ventral striatum activation during the risk taking task experienced longitudinal increases in depressive symptoms (Telzer et al., 2014).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Telzer et al., 2014 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The meaning and psychological significance of ventral striatum activation depends on the context and situation in which it occurs and likely varies across individuals.

    “Therefore, the meaning and psychological significance of ventral striatum activation depends on the context and situation in which it occurs and likely varies across individuals.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Adolescence is a time when many new behaviors and contexts are experienced and new behavior patterns are acquired.

    “Indeed, an important aspect of adolescence is that it is a time when many new behaviors and contexts are experienced and new behavior patterns are acquired (Dahl, 2008).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Dahl, 2008

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Not all adolescents showed heightened striatal activation, and not all striatal activation in these contexts was adaptive.

    “That is, not all adolescents showed heightened striatal activation, and not all striatal activation in these contexts was adaptive.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Striatal reactivity may be a neurobiological signal representing intrinsic motivation that serves an adaptive function, increasing Chinese students' motivation to engage in cognitive control.

    “Thus, striatal reactivity may be a neurobiological signal representing intrinsic motivation that serves an adaptive function, increasing Chinese students’ motivation to engage in cognitive control.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    These findings highlight an adaptive role of the striatum and specifically implicate it in emotion regulation.

    “Again, contrary to common interpretations that increased striatal reactivity during adolescence represents a risk factor, these findings highlight an adaptive role of the striatum and specifically implicate it in emotion regulation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The ventral striatum does not behave as a monolithic structure and may therefore consist of spatially distinct ensembles of neurons with specific functional roles.

    “Based on anatomical, physiological, immunohistochemical and pharmacological studies with rats, primates, and humans (e.g., Cardinal et al., 2002, Koya et al., 2009, Pennartz et al., 1994, Voorn et al., 1989), the VS does not behave as a monolithic structure and may therefore consist of spatially distinct ensembles of neurons with specific functional roles (Kalenscher et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Cardinal et al., 2002 source

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    • cites Koya et al., 2009

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    • cites Pennartz et al., 1994

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Heightened ventral striatum activation can be adaptive by increasing cognitive persistence and emotion regulation, and decreasing risk taking behavior and depression.

    “Together, these studies suggest that heightened ventral striatum activation can be adaptive by increasing cognitive persistence and emotion regulation, and decreasing risk taking behavior and depression.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Ventral striatum reactivity is adaptive when it occurs in tandem with VLPFC activation but may be maladaptive when it occurs in tandem with limbic activation such as the amygdala.

    “Perhaps ventral striatum reactivity is adaptive when it occurs in tandem with VLPFC activation but may be maladaptive when it occurs in tandem with limbic activation such as the amygdala.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Longitudinal increases in ventral striatum reactivity were associated with longitudinal decreases in risky behavior as well as declines in susceptibility to peer influence.

    “Longitudinal increases in ventral striatum reactivity were associated with longitudinal decreases in risky behavior as well as declines in susceptibility to peer influence.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Pfeifer et al. (2011) source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When making safe choices in the presence of mother, the ventral striatum appears to function via communication with the VLPFC, connectivity that is not present when making safe choices alone.

    “However, when making safe choices in the presence of mother, the ventral striatum appears to function via communication with the VLPFC, connectivity that is not present when making safe choices alone (Telzer et al., 2015b).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Telzer et al., 2015b

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Individuals who recruit the ventral striatum more when engaging in cognitive control also engage in more adaptive behaviors in their everyday lives, resulting in more effective cognitive control and less risk taking behavior.

    “Together, these findings suggest that individuals who recruit the ventral striatum more when engaging in cognitive control also engage in more adaptive behaviors in their everyday lives, resulting in more effective cognitive control and less risk taking behavior.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Laboratory measures of ventral striatum activation predict real-world behavior and health outcomes.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When making risky choices alone or in the presence of peers, the ventral striatum is significantly active.

    “For instance, when making risky choices alone (Telzer et al., 2015b) or in the presence of peers (Chein et al., 2010), the ventral striatum is significantly active.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Telzer et al., 2015b

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    • cites Chein et al., 2010 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    It is not evident per se whether the ventral striatal activations reported are representing a reward response or another psychological process.

    “Based on the specific measurements in the reviewed studies, it is not evident per se whether the ventral striatal activations reported are representing a reward response or another psychological process.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Ventral striatum activation was not associated with being influenced by risky peers or to driving behavior when alone.

    “Ventral striatum activation was not associated with being influenced by risky peers or to driving behavior when alone.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cascio et al., 2014 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescents who displayed relatively greater activation in the ventral striatum when engaging in cognitive control were more influenced by their cautious peers, such that greater ventral striatum activation was associated with engaging in fewer risks in the presence of cautious peers.

    “At the neural level, adolescents who displayed relatively greater activation in the ventral striatum when engaging in cognitive control were more influenced by their cautious peers, such that greater ventral striatum activation was associated with engaging in fewer risks in the presence of cautious peers.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cascio et al., 2014 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Ventral striatal reactivity in adolescence appears to be universal, as seen across species, contexts, and cultures.

    “Ventral striatal reactivity in adolescence appears to be universal, as seen across species, contexts, and cultures.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    If researchers continue to rely on tasks that tap largely negative behaviors or reward sensitivity in the absence of social processes, ventral striatum sensitivity will appear to be ubiquitously negative.

    “If researchers continue to rely on tasks that tap largely negative behaviors (e.g., risk taking) or reward sensitivity in the absence of social processes, ventral striatum sensitivity will appear to be ubiquitously negative.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Prior research has largely examined adolescent decision making and reward sensitivity within a social vacuum, although studies are emerging that examine adolescent decision making in a social context.

    “Prior research has largely examined adolescent decision making and reward sensitivity within a social vacuum, although studies are emerging that examine adolescent decision making in a social context (e.g., Peake et al., 2013, Braams et al., 2014, Chein et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Peake et al., 2013 source

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    • cites Braams et al., 2014 source

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    • cites Chein et al., 2010 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Neural activation can predict what kind of changes (increases or decreases) in risk taking behaviors and depressive symptoms will be observed one month to over one year later.

    “this work has found that neural activation can predict what kind of changes (increases or decreases) in risk taking behaviors and depressive symptoms will be observed one month to over one year later (e.g., Cascio et al., 2014, Telzer et al., 2013, Telzer et al., 2014).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Cascio et al., 2014 source

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    • cites Telzer et al., 2013

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    • cites Telzer et al., 2014 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The striatum encompasses subregions of tissue that have distinct chemical compositions and connections, and the ventral striatum in particular has more differentiation and complexity of neurochemical systems than other regions such as the dorsal striatum.

    “Indeed, the striatum encompasses subregions of tissue that have distinct chemical compositions and connections, and the ventral striatum in particular has more differentiation and complexity of neurochemical systems than other regions such as the dorsal striatum (Holt et al., 1997).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Holt et al., 1997

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Additional differences within these three subregions exist, including the densities of chemical markers and the distribution of connections.

    “Additional differences within these three subregions exist, including the densities of chemical markers and the distribution of connections (Holt et al., 1997).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Holt et al., 1997

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Interventions that rely on findings from a specific cultural group may not be successful with a different group and may have iatrogenic effects.

    “Thus, if intervention efforts rely on findings from a specific cultural group, interventions may not be successful with a different group and may actually have iatrogenic effects.”
    • Also stated in: § Focus on individual and cultural differences to identify youth most at risk · hedged
      “That is, interventions that focus on increasing the participation of behaviors that are valued only by certain adolescents may have negative implications for adolescent health.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Within the ventral striatum, the nucleus accumbens has been divided into three subregions including the shell, core, and rostral pole territories.

    “Within the ventral striatum, the nucleus accumbens has been divided into three subregions including the shell, core, and rostral pole territories (Zaborszky et al., 1985, Meredith et al., 1993).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Zaborszky et al., 1985

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Meredith et al., 1993

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Research has begun to treat the brain as a predictor variable of future health behaviors.

    “Research has begun to treat the brain as a predictor variable of future health behaviors.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Cascio et al., 2014 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Telzer et al., 2013

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Telzer et al., 2014 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Stressors in one's environment shape molecular mechanisms in the VTA-nucleus accumbens circuit, and can impact whether stimuli are experienced adaptively or maladaptively.

    “Thus, stressors in ones environment shape molecular mechanisms in the VTA-nucleus accumbens circuit, and can impact whether stimuli are experienced adaptively or maladaptively.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    If experimental tasks incorporate more complex social processes, ventral striatum sensitivity is likely to show unique patterns, sometimes representing a liability but at other times being adaptive.

    “However, if experimental tasks incorporate more complex social processes (e.g., presence of others, prosocial versus antisocial decisions), ventral striatum sensitivity is likely to show unique patterns, sometimes representing a liability but at other times being adaptive.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Self-reported intentions predict some variability in future health behavior.

    “Although self-reported intentions predict some variability in future health behavior”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Aklin et al., 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Optogenetic stimulation of D1-type medium spiny neurons in rodents enhances reward driven behaviors, whereas stimulations of D2-type medium spiny neurons results in freezing behavior.

    “For example, optogenetic stimulation of D1-type medium spiny neurons in rodents enhances reward driven behaviors, whereas stimulations of D2-type medium spiny neurons results in freezing behavior (Lobo et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lobo et al., 2010 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescence is a period marked by increasingly complex social development, and adolescent decision making most often occurs during socioemotional arousal.

    “Given that adolescence is a period marked by increasingly complex social development, and adolescent decision making most often occurs during socioemotional arousal (Dahl, 2008, Gardner and Steinberg, 2005), research needs to incorporate the social and motivational context into experimental tasks in order to tap the complexity of adolescent behavior.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Dahl, 2008

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Gardner and Steinberg, 2005 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Recent advances in neuroimaging have begun to use neural activation to predict behavior either concurrently or in the future.

    “Recent advances in neuroimaging have begun to use neural activation to predict behavior either concurrently or in the future.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Cascio et al., 2014 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Telzer et al., 2013

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Telzer et al., 2014 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Dopaminergic reward sensitivity, reflected in peaks in ventral striatum sensitivity, can be adaptive for adolescent functioning and can promote health and well-being.

    “In this review, I have shown that peaks in ventral striatum sensitivity can be adaptive for adolescent functioning and can facilitate improved well-being and health-promoting behaviors.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The BOLD signal does not provide direct information about neurochemistry, and it remains unclear how BOLD activation relates to striatal dopamine release.

    “Moreover, the BOLD signal does not provide direct information about neurochemistry, and it remains unclear how BOLD activation relates to striatal dopamine release (Schott et al., 2008).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Schott et al., 2008 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Microinjection of the GABAA agonist muscimol in the rostral medial accumbens shell in rats elicits appetitive behavior, whereas microinjection in the caudal shell instead elicits fearful behavior.

    “For example, microinjection of the GABAA agonist muscimol in the rostral medial accumbens shell in rats elicits appetitive behavior, whereas microinjection in the caudal shell instead elicits fearful behavior.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Reynolds and Berridge, 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

62 of 62

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Parents play an important scaffolding role, helping their children to make adaptive decisions and avoid risks.

    “Parents play an important scaffolding role, helping their children to make adaptive decisions and avoid risks.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Ventral striatum activation can be used as a proxy for reward processing/dopaminergic reward sensitivity despite not being synonymous with reward.

    “While ventral striatum activation certainly is not synonymous with reward, this link is sometimes necessary to make in describing a cogent story.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The reviewed studies' tasks and measures validly index the psychological constructs (e.g., intrinsic motivation, cognitive control, emotion regulation) they are said to index.

    “The authors defined intrinsic motivation as a heightened ventral striatal response when correctly completing the task.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Laboratory measures of ventral striatum activation predict real-world behavior and health outcomes.

    “Together, these findings suggest that individuals who recruit the ventral striatum more when engaging in cognitive control also engage in more adaptive behaviors in their everyday lives, resulting in more effective cognitive control and less risk taking behavior.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Not all striatal activation is good or bad; it depends on the context and the individual.

    “Not all striatal activation is good or bad, and it depends on the context and the individual.”
5 of 5

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The role of ventral striatum in response to rewards across development is complex and in some cases conflicting, with some studies finding increases in activation peaking during adolescence, whereas others find attenuations.

    “The role of ventral striatum in response to rewards across development is complex and in some cases conflicting, with some studies finding increases in activation in this region peaking during adolescence, whereas others find attenuations [20,23,38].”

    From The neuroscience of emotion regulation development: Implications for education (2016) · cites this paper as [23]

  • The imbalance theory may be an oversimplification of more complex interactions between cognition and emotion during development.

    “The imbalance theory may be an oversimplification of a more complex series of interactions between cognition and emotion taking place during development, where they can mutually inform, help, or hinder one another [21–24].”

    From The neuroscience of emotion regulation development: Implications for education (2016) · cites this paper as [23]

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Human striatum claim cites a monkey prefrontal-cortex study

    Minor

    The passage presents axon measurements as part of evidence from human post-mortem striatal samples and cites Lambe et al. (2000). The paper's own reference list describes that study as examining inputs to the prefrontal cortex of rhesus monkeys, not the human striatum.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014, vol. 64(2)

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Telzer, E. H.
Affiliations
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Corresponding author
Telzer, Eva H.
ORCID
Telzer, Eva H.
Venue
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-02
Volume
17
Pages
57-67
ISSN
1878-9293 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.dcn.2015.10.010
PMC
PMC4727991
OpenAlex
W2176764139
Cited by
274
References
116
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
FWCI
1.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA039923)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
ventral striatum, adolescent brain development, mesolimbic reward system, risk-taking, depression, cognitive persistence, academic performance, youth welfare
MeSH terms
Adolescent Health, Adolescent, Brain Mapping, Child, Dopamine, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Reward, Risk-Taking, Adolescent Development, Ventral Striatum

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-10.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.

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