How drug abuse alters the brain

Sixth-formers from The Leys learned about the effects of drugs on the brain in a lecture by Trevor Robbins, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge.

Prof Robbins, who holds the Chair of Experimental Psychology, showed them some advanced brain imaging which suggested evidence of a relationship between compulsive drug abuse and loss of grey matter in the frontal lobes of the brain. He discussed not only the negative effects of drugs but also the potential they have to treat conditions such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.

The lecture was part of the Cambridge Experience programme, which encourages sxith-formers at The Leys to make the most of what the city on their doorstep has to offer.

One student who attended, Danielle Penny, commented: "I feel that this area of discussion is particularly important to teenagers today as we live in a society in which drugs have been consistently abused over many generations, with many having no prior knowledge as to the negative effects they can have on our brain functioning."