Citation

Spear LP. Neurotoxicol. Teratol. 2007; 29(1): 1-9.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology and Center for Developmental Psychobiology, Binghamton University, Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA. lspear@binghamton.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ntt.2006.11.006

PMID

17222532

PMCID

PMC1919405

Abstract

This introduction to the special issue of Neurotoxicology and Teratology on "Risk of neurobehavioral toxicity in adolescence" begins by broadly considering the ontogeny and phylogeny of adolescence, and the potential value of animal models of adolescence. Major findings from the emerging neuroscience of adolescence are then highlighted to establish the importance of studies of adolescent neurotoxicity. A variety of methodological issues that are of particular relevance to adolescent exposures are then discussed. These include consideration of pharmacokinetic factors, inclusion of other-aged comparison group(s), and issues involving timing, route of administration, and exposure-induced alterations in growth rate. Despite such methodological challenges, research to determine whether adolescence is a time of increased vulnerability (or greater resiliency) to specific drugs and environmental toxicants is progressing rapidly, as exemplified by the work presented in the articles of this special issue.

Language: en