Teen Sleep Habits May Shape Brain Connectivity Linked to Behavior Problems

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by PsyPost.

New research suggests that how well adolescents sleep could influence how their brains function—and might even help predict whether they develop behavioral problems down the line. In a large study involving thousands of youth, researchers identified distinct brain connectivity profiles that were associated with different sleep patterns and levels of externalizing behaviors like aggression and impulsivity. The findings, published in Brain and Behavior, point to the possibility that improving sleep could be one way to support mental health during adolescence.

The findings support a growing body of evidence suggesting that adolescent sleep habits are tied not just to daily functioning but to long-term patterns of brain development. In particular, insufficient or disrupted sleep may interfere with the internal organization of the default mode network (DMN), a major brain system thought to support reflection, emotional regulation, and self-control. When this network is not functioning efficiently, the brain may increase its reliance on other systems—perhaps to compensate for reduced internal coordination. This shift in brain dynamics may place youth at greater risk for behavioral problems over time.

The researchers also highlight that not all sleep issues affect the brain in the same way. Sleep duration and sleep efficiency were linked to different neural patterns, indicating that both quantity and quality of sleep matter.

Source: PsyPost
https://www.psypost.org/teen-sleep-habits-may-shape-brain-connectivity-linked-to-behavior-problems/