Development of the Anterior Insula: Implications for Adolescent Risk-Taking

Abstract

Current neurobiological models of adolescent decision-making suggest that heightened risk taking during adolescence is a result of the asynchronous development of neural regions underlying cognitive control and reward processing, particularly during periods of heightened social and affective arousal (e.g., Casey, Getz, & Galván, 2008; Steinberg, 2008). Despite the emphasis on the interplay of cognitive and emotional processes during adolescence, the developmental literature has largely overlooked the potential importance of maturational changes in the anterior insular cortex (AIC), a region known for its role as a cognitive-emotional hub. In a recent review we proposed a theory of adolescent risk-taking in which development of the AIC, and its connectivity to other regions, biases adolescents towards engagement in risky behaviors (Smith, Steinberg, & Chein, 2014b). The current studies provide a test of the proposed model through an examination of specific aspects of AIC development and functioning, including the trajectory of structural development within the AIC, the role of AIC engagement in adolescents' risky decision-making, and the impacts of affective arousal on AIC recruitment. Results from Study 1 suggest that the AIC exhibits continued developmental changes during adolescence that likely affect its involvement in cognitive processes. Using a risk-taking task, Study 2 demonstrates the flexible role of the AIC during adolescent decision-making and explores how affective arousal biases the AIC towards engagement in risky behaviors. Implications for both the proposed model and the developmental literature are discussed.