CNS 2025: Keynote Address by Adriana Galván, "Adolescent Brain Development"

Michael Anderson welcomes attendees to the 32nd annual Cognitive Neuroscience Society meeting, acknowledging the efforts of various committees and individuals who contributed to organizing the event. He highlights the exciting program, including invited sessions on cognitive functions, lesion methods, EEG insights, and the cognitive thalamus, as well as a record number of poster submissions. Anderson encourages attendees to engage with scientists and participate in workshops and social events throughout the conference.

Sabina Castner expresses her happiness to be part of the scientific community and introduces keynote speaker Adriana Galvan, who specializes in adolescent brain development. Galvan's research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying adolescent behavior and the importance of this developmental stage. She has published extensively and received numerous accolades for her work, including a Fulbright scholarship and a Presidential Early Career Award.

Adriana Galvan begins her keynote address by discussing the unique qualities of adolescents, portraying them as 'superhumans' who excel in learning and social bonding. She aims to shift the negative narrative surrounding adolescence and emphasizes the need for policies that support their development. Galvan shares her personal connection to the topic as both a researcher and a parent of a teenager, highlighting the importance of understanding adolescent brain development.

Galvan explains that adolescence spans from around 10-12 years old to the early 20s, a period often overlooked in terms of funding and research focus. She references a 2018 Nature editorial that calls for more attention to adolescent health, paralleling the focus given to pediatrics and geriatrics. Galvan emphasizes the need for a supportive environment to foster healthy brain development during this critical time.

The National Academy of Sciences report on adolescence highlights the creation of new neural pathways during this developmental stage, influenced by environmental factors. Galvan stresses the importance of celebrating adolescence and recognizing their unique developmental needs, which include exploring the world, building decision-making skills, forming values and identity, and seeking social connections.

Galvan outlines seven developmental needs of adolescents, including the importance of support from caregivers and the need for a nurturing environment to achieve developmental milestones. She emphasizes that adolescents continue to require guidance and support from adults, despite the common perception that they are solely focused on their peers.

Galvan discusses the ongoing brain development during adolescence, characterized by organized and sequential growth, refinement of brain connectivity, and significant plasticity. She explains that the brain's ability to adapt and respond to the environment is crucial for developing cognitive skills and social connections during this period.

The keynote address highlights the importance of joy in adolescence, as their reward systems are highly sensitive, allowing them to learn and adapt quickly. Galvan shares research findings that demonstrate adolescents' heightened sensitivity to rewards and their ability to learn from new experiences, which is essential for navigating the complexities of social interactions and decision-making.