The long term consequences of toluene exposure on the maturing brain (ARC Discovery Project administered by the University of Melbourne) (2011-2013)

The purposeful abuse of inhaled chemical vapors to produce self-intoxication is currently a significant concern, especially among adolescent and indigenous populations. The aim of this study is to increase our basic understanding of the fundamental consequences of inhalant exposure on the maturing adolescent brain. Our experiments will describe how inhalant exposure during this critical period of brain development affects nerve cell structure and function into adulthood. This will increase our knowledge of how insults during development relate to later brain function and influence complex behaviour patterns. Such information is vital to identify targets for possible intervention strategies.