more sucrose solution (Vaidya et al., 2004), prefer chambers previously associated with social interaction (Douglas et al., 2004), and exhibit evidence of higher incentive value for drugs such as nicotine, alcohol, amphetamine, and cocaine than adults (Badanich et al., 2006; Brenhouse and Andersen, 2008; Shram et al., 2006; Spear and Varlinskaya, 2010; Vastola et al., 2002). This is not always seen, however, (Frantz et al., 2007; Mathews and McCormick, 2007; Shram et al., 2008), and increased adolescent drug preference could also be related to reduced sensitivity to aversive side-effects and withdrawal (Little et al., 1996; Moy et al., 1998; Schramm-Sapyta et al., 2007; Schramm-Sapyta et al., 2009). Similarly, adolescents might perform more risky behaviors if their assessment of possible aversive consequences is less motivating or salient (or if the excitement of risk-taking itself makes such behavior more likely).
