8/ … Phew, that tour de force does not even cover our big-data HCP neuroanatomy analysis or human neuropsychology results. For these and a fuller description of the above check out the paper.

7/Strikingly, the negative GRS effect contrasted with both previous studies and our own analysis of GRS effects in a large sample of non-human primates (same paradigm, same analysis), pointing towards a potentially meaningful species difference.

6/Interestingly, the influence of the global reward state (GRS) was negative and became more negative with age, meaning young adults, more than adolescents, were less likely to persist with an option if there were other valuable alternatives.

5/We showed that the influence of both local and global reward learning was greater in adults compared with adolescents. As people get older, they more strongly associate local rewards with actions.

4/To look into this this we used the same learning task originally developed in non-human primates to dissociate learning from immediate reward (local) and the overall reward state (global) and tested a large online sample of adolescents and young adults.

3/We know from monkey work that lateral prefrontal cortex is important for learning the consequences of our choices. Interestingly, those brain regions are some of the last to mature, suggesting that the supported learning mechanisms may continue to change during adolescence.

2/People often assume that teenagers struggle to learn from the consequences of their actions. But how exactly do adolescents differ from adults when they learn about what actions are good and what actions are bad? And how is that rooted in brain development?

TWO NEW STUDIES from my lab asking how decision-making strategies are linked to mental health in young people (11-17 yrs). Follow the links for more information devneurolab.com/foraging-mon… AND devneurolab.com/foraging-fis…

Work-Life balance: On my days with the kids, I find myself in one of two states during the peaceful post-lunch nap hour: 1. Frantically checking emails/making figures/writing papers or 2. Asleep on Small's floor. I'd call that balanced!

Under normal circumstances I'm a bit twitter-shy. Perhaps fearful of falling into the void or just shouting at it. But as daily-life is now just me, Tiny, Small, Husband & (virtual) parents I'm going to make more of an effort with you lot. You're welcome!