leidenpsychologyblog

Barbara Braams is Associate Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

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Why risk takers are mostly young

At Leiden University's Brain and Development Lab, Barbara Braams studied adolescents' risk-taking behaviour in connection to the brain's development. Examples of risk-taking behaviour are: drinking a lot of alcohol and acting really funny on your scooter.

Barbara Braams • November 22, 2015

2toDrive: Making adolescents better drivers

Young drivers are far more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than older drivers. Of course, these young drivers are less experienced than older drivers. But this is not the whole story.

Barbara Braams • December 16, 2014

Risk-taking in adolescence: where does the brain come into it?

Why do adolescents drive too fast, or without a helmet? And why do they take more risks when they are with their friends? Can we explain this by looking at adolescent brain development?

Barbara Braams • July 13, 2014

Underage drinking: Why raising the minimum legal drinking age does not solve the problem

Over the last couple of years over 700 adolescents have been admitted to hospital due to excessive alcohol use. These 'comazuipers' have sparked debate on underage drinking and brain development. Will the increased legal drinking age solve the problem?

Barbara Braams • February 03, 2014

Bieber Fever - Why teens obsess over celebrities

The arena is filled with excitement, lights go dim and an intense roar rises up from the stadium full of fans, as their idol enters the stage. Most of these fans are teenage girls - why are teenagers especially prone to obsessing over pop stars?

Barbara Braams • December 23, 2013

Adolescents in love: What makes a first love special?

“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” ― William Shakespeare. Although probably not as intense as Romeo and Juliet’s, most people will remember their own first love. What makes a first love so special?

Barbara Braams • September 11, 2013

'Facebook depression?' The influence of social media on adolescents

The growing use of social networking sites also fosters concerns about the negative consequences for adolescents of using these sites. But do adolescents themselves confirm that they are depressed because of Facebook?

Barbara Braams • May 09, 2013

Alcohol and adolescents: why do teens drink?

Recently the Dutch government proposed to raise the legal drinking age from 16 to 18. High levels of alcohol use in adolescence are related to alcohol dependence later in life. Recent research shows that also pubertal hormones play a role.

Barbara Braams • February 18, 2013