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A recent study conducted by the University of Washington, featured in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals significant differences in brain development between adolescent girls and boys following the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns. The research focused on cortical thinning—a normal part of brain maturation where the brain eliminates surplus synapses and reduces its outer layer.
This process, which typically begins in either late childhood or early adolescence, is understood to enhance brain efficiency as it matures. However, stress can accelerate this thinning, which is often associated with increased risks of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Data gathered in 2021, as pandemic restrictions were easing, indicated that during the lockdowns, both genders experienced rapid cortical thinning. However, the progression in girls was remarkably faster, averaging 4.2 years beyond the expected rate, compared to 1.4 years in boys.
Patricia K. Kuhl, a co-author of the study and a director at the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, noted that this accelerated development in girls might be linked to the heightened social isolation experienced during the pandemic. Adolescent girls, who often rely more on social interactions for emotional support, were disproportionately affected by the lockdown measures.
The study began with a sample of 160 children and adolescents in 2018 and aimed to track typical brain changes through their teenage years. However, the pandemic disrupted the follow-up data collection planned for 2020. By 2021, when tests resumed, researchers were presented with a unique opportunity to observe the impacts of prolonged stress on brain development, making this study a natural experiment of its time.
While the findings are striking, the researchers urge caution in interpreting accelerated cortical thinning as harmful. Ronald E. Dahl of the University of California, Berkeley, who was not involved in the study, emphasizes that thinning is a sign of the brain’s maturation, not damage. The significance of these findings lies in their contribution to understanding how significant stressors like a pandemic can affect developmental trajectories.
The results also underscore the importance of considering gender-specific impacts when assessing the consequences of global crises on youth development. As the world continues to navigate the aftermath of the pandemic, findings like these highlight the need for tailored strategies to support the mental and emotional well-being of young people.
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