Impacts of substance use/exposure and behavioral addictions on the early brain: Volume II

Building on the foundation established in Volume I, this second edition expands our focus on the vulnerability of the developing brain to modern exposure risks and reward-seeking behaviors. The developing brain undergoes critical structural, functional, and neurochemical reorganization from prenatal life through emerging adulthood, leaving young neural networks uniquely susceptible to external disruptions.While Volume I highlighted traditional neurotoxicological impacts of chemical substances (such as alcohol, cannabis, nicotine/vaping, opioids, and stimulants), Volume II broadens its scope to include the rapidly evolving domain of non-chemical and behavioral exposures. Problematic smartphone usage, screen overuse, social media engagement, and gaming disorders recruit overlapping dopaminergic reward pathways and frontostriatal circuits, presenting parallel neurodevelopmental challenges. Understanding chemical exposures and behavioral addictions in tandem provides a comprehensive framework for pediatric and adolescent brain health.This collection welcomes multidisciplinary contributions—spanning cellular neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, neuroimaging, and clinical prevention—that advance our understanding of how modern exposures shape young brains.Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to:-Cellular, molecular, and circuit-level alterations induced by chemical substances (alcohol, cannabis, nicotine/e-cigarettes, opioids, stimulants) across fetal, infant, child, and adolescent development.-Neural correlates and cognitive impacts of digital media and behavioral addictions (problematic smartphone use, internet gaming disorder, social media overuse) assessed via structural/functional MRI, EEG, or fNIRS.-Shared neurobiological mechanisms between substance use disorders and digital/behavioral addictions (e.g., reward sensitivity, inhibitory control, executive dysfunction, emotion regulation).-Insights from large developmental cohorts (e.g., ABCD Study, Generation R) examining exposure trajectories, poly-exposure interactions, and comorbid mental health conditions.-Preventive strategies, clinical interventions, and policy initiatives designed to protect brain development from chemical and behavioral risks.We welcome Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Brief Research Reports, and Perspectives Topic editors: Douglas Dean, Florencia Anunziata, Shinnyi Chou Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/87487/impacts-of-substance-useexposure-and-behavioral-addictions-on-the-early-brain-volume-ii