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Review Paper | Neuroscience | Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026 | Pages: 661 - 667 | India
From Brain to Behavior: The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Disrupting the Connectivity of the Prefrontal Cortex and Amygdala, Causing Changes in Adolescents' Mood Regulation
Abstract: This review consolidates globally renowned research on the relationship between circadian rhythm, sleep, and behavioral occurrences in adolescents through a biological lens. Adolescence is a crucial stage of development, marked by rapid biological, social, and psychological changes, especially in sleep-wake cycles. Sleep is defined as a complex yet reversible state of mind that diminishes an individual?s responsiveness and a species-specific posture. This paper identifies the direct relationship between worsening sleep habits and increased mental tragedies like depression and anxiety from a neurological lens. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 72.7% of high school students report getting less than the recommended amount of sleep on school nights. The aim of the paper is to investigate how sleep deprivation disrupts connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which in turn causes changes in adolescents' mood regulation. Altogether, this paper examines a compilation of longitudinal, cross-sectional, and experimental studies from Australia, India, China, Canada, and the United States. Findings indicate how worsening sleep patterns are directly associated with increased symptoms of mental disorders like depression and anxiety. Each paper identifies different factors like modern disruptors, intense use of social media, and being prone to sleep disorders like insomnia, with female adolescents showing a greater vulnerability. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic affected sleep patterns, but not all sleep patterns were impacted equally, with a clear socioeconomic and racial inequity. In conclusion, this review showcases sleep as a mediator between modern lifestyle and adolescents' well-being. Signalling for direct intervention through public health strategies like digital literacy, school timings, and concern for the mental health development of adolescents. However, future studies should adopt longitudinal study designs and objective wearable digital measurement instruments in order to further clarify causal relationships between digital behaviors and neurodevelopment.
Keywords: Adolescence, Circadian rhythm, Sleep deprivation, Prefrontal cortex, Amygdala
How to Cite?: Akshara Kejriwal, "From Brain to Behavior: The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Disrupting the Connectivity of the Prefrontal Cortex and Amygdala, Causing Changes in Adolescents' Mood Regulation", Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 661-667, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26806201603, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26806201603