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play a musical instrument, and other forms 09
of self-expression.
Science and Art
If you think about it, science and research Jul–Sep 2020 | https://icaf.org/
have similar goals to art. They all are ways to
explain and understand our surroundings
and how they impact us. Artists like painters,
sculptors, musicians, dancers, actors, or writ-
ers use skills and imagination to explore their
world and their lives. Scientists in the ABCD
Study are using technology like brain scans,
genetic testing, and puzzles to understand
how life and learning experiences during teen
years affect healthy development. ABCD Study® Participant-Katelynn M.
For instance, the MRI scans will help the and improving the lives not only in America but
researchers tell whether the brains of all over the world.
kids taking art classes, participating Together, with our government partners and
in school plays or theater, or learning the ABCD Study researchers and participants,
a musical instrument develop any dif- NIDA is excited to use today’s science to study
ferently from those students who don’t how involvement in the arts and other experi-
participate in such activities. There is al- ences can help shape brighter futures. Fittingly,
ready evidence that arts participation has pos- the National Endowment for the Arts is one of
itive effects on children’s stress levels, reading our partners in the study.
ability, and brain development (see “Growing More information about the ABCD Study, our
Up With the Arts: What Science Can Tell Us” partners and collaborators, and the data being
in this issue). The scientists will also look at collected can be found at ABCDStudy.org.
whether these and other activities have effects
on other aspects of your health, school perfor- Katia Delrahim Howlett, PhD,
mance, and well-being. MPP, MBA
Deputy Director
The ABCD Study and the data it is collect-
Division of Extramural Research
ing are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help National Institute on Drug Abuse
find answers to important questions about National Institutes of Health
health and development during the second Gayathri J. Dowling, PhD
decade of life. Researchers around the world Director
Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Project
will be able to use the data collected by the
Division of Extramural Research
ABCD Study for many years to come, benefit- National Institute on Drug Abuse
ting your generation and future generations National Institutes of Health
