Peer influence effects on risk-taking and prosocial decision-making in adolescence: insights from neuroimaging studies

- Peer influence is adaptive and can promote positive psychosocial outcomes.
- Peer presence elicits greater activation in reward-related areas during risk-taking.
- Peer influence elicits activation of social networks.

Peer influence plays a key role in health-compromising risky behaviors during adolescence. However, there is emerging evidence indicating that peer influence can also lead to positive psychosocial outcomes, such as learning, exploration and prosocial behavior. This review highlights the maladaptive and adaptive nature of peer influence and identifies recent functional neuroimaging research investigating the underlying neural mechanisms thereof. In the context of risk-taking, peer effects have been associated with amplified motivational circuitry, including ventral striatum. The social brain (medial prefrontal cortex, temporo-parietal junction and superior temporal sulcus) has been related to peer influence in neutral/prosocial contexts. We propose that peer influence may enhance activation in task-related brain areas; and that the interplay between the motivational circuitry and social brain regions should be investigated to advance our knowledge about the neural underpinnings of peer influence.