Gender Variations in Reward System Activation Associated with Substance Use Issues in High-Risk Adolescents - Takeaways - MDSpire

Gender Variations in Reward System Activation Associated with Substance Use Issues in High-Risk Adolescents

  • By

  • Olivia K. Murray

  • Paola P. Mattey-Mora

  • Joseph Aloi

  • Sydney Lovins

  • Michael P. Smoker

  • Leslie A. Hulvershorn

  • December 4, 2025

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Adolescents with externalizing disorders exhibit sex differences in brain activation during risky decision-making tasks.

  • 2

    Higher activation in the right nucleus accumbens is linked to a lower hazard of problematic substance use in females with externalizing disorders.

  • 3

    In males, higher unmodulated activation in the right nucleus accumbens also correlates with a lower hazard of problematic substance use.

  • 4

    The study emphasizes the need for sex-specific research and interventions for youth with externalizing disorders related to substance use.

  • 5

    Findings suggest that enhancing normal reward-processing systems may help reduce substance use risk, particularly in females.

Original Source(s)

Gender Variations in Reward System Activation Associated with Substance Use Issues in High-Risk Adolescents

  • by Olivia K. Murray, Paola P. Mattey-Mora, Joseph Aloi, Sydney Lovins, Michael P. Smoker, Leslie A. Hulvershorn

  • December 4, 2025

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