Study shows: Myelination in the brain promotes resilience in young people

Study shows: Myelination in the brain promotes resilience in young people

The influence of psychosocial factors on adolescent resilience

A new study shows that adolescents' brains have a remarkable ability to adapt to psychosocial stressors, which is particularly important for the development of their mental health. The research is carried out by scientists Meike Hettwer and Sofie Valk from the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig and was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

Read more about the lessons learned

They studied a group of over two thousand young people aged 14 to 24 and analyzed how environmental factors such as family neglect or bullying can affect the mental health of these young people. In order to better understand the connections, the researchers paid particular attention to the myelination of the brain. Myelin, a layer of fats and proteins, covers nerve cells and improves signal transmission between them. Greater myelination in the prefrontal cortex has been linked to better resilience.

The prefrontal cortex and its importance

The prefrontal cortex plays a central role in regulating emotions and processing information. Hettwer explains: “A more efficient expansion of prefrontal networks may be associated with adolescents better regulating their emotions, better assessing situations and developing cognitive strategies to better deal with emotionally challenging situations.” The study showed that adolescents who became more resilient with age had stronger myelination in this area.

Changes over time and resilience

The researchers carried out a longitudinal analysis in which the test subjects were examined in the MRI scanner twice over a period of one to two years. The results suggest that positive myelination development plays an essential role in resilience. In contrast, adolescents who were more vulnerable to psychosocial stress showed less stability in their neural networks.

Implications for society and future research directions

The research raises important questions, such as how the stability of neural networks can be promoted. According to Valk, repeating the study in risk groups and in young people who are already mentally ill could provide informative results. “Increased positive contact with supportive psychosocial services could promote experience-dependent brain plasticity,” she says.

It is of immense importance for society to take preventative measures that focus on at-risk youth to stabilize their mental health and promote a healthy psychosocial environment.

Contact for further information

Scientific contact person:
Meike Hettwer, doctoral student
Email: meike.hettwer@cbs.mpg.de
Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig

Dr. Sofie Valk, group leader
Email: valk@cbs.mpg.de
Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig

Original publication:
Meike D. Hettwer et al. “Longitudinal variation in resilient psychosocial functioning is associated with ongoing cortical myelination and functional reorganization during adolescence” in Nature Communications.