Category: OxBright Essay Competition

  • Crime as an Addiction: Adrenaline, Dopamine and Emotional Arousal
    by Adeline English, Simoné Havenga and Abigail Snyder
    Upon release from state prison in the United States, 68% of criminals are arrested within three years. Addiction is a leading factor in recidivism, with criminal activity producing levels of adrenaline, dopamine and emotional arousal associated with addiction.
  • Addiction in EDs and SUDs: Diagnostic and Behavioural Similarities, Comorbidity, Bidirectional Risk and Underlying Predisposition
    by Chloe Guerin, Stefania Hüse and Krisha Ramdasani
    The addictive behaviour of eating disorders (EDs) and its link to substance use disorders (SUDs) has been greatly researched over the past decades. This paper compares multiple studies on this subject in order to deepen the understanding of the relationship between EDs and SUDs.
  • How Does Phone Dependency Affect Mental Processes?
    by Fabiola Garcia, Aidan Muller and Ronan Peng
    Mobile phones have proven to be accessible and easy to use, combining a range of helpful tools which make life easier and more enjoyable for most. However, some features of mobile phones risk causing dependency. This paper will examine how mental processes – specifically memory, attention span, focus and emotions – are affected by phone dependency through long-term exposure.
  • The Impact of Substances on the Brain: Relationship Between Substance Use and Crime
    by Emil Ahopelto, Ada Asogwa, Alexander Kremer, Amna Rizvi, Lily Saberi and Abigail Shields
    Substance abuse is closely linked to criminal behaviour, yet the pathways differ across drugs. This paper reviews how alcohol, methamphetamine and heroin disrupt the brain and shape offending.
  • Balancing Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Breast Cancer
    by Jewelyn Anna Joseph, Yashica Mohan, Manyata Prasad, Shaurya Sharma and Leanne Wong
    Artificial intelligence is rapidly emerging as a transformative tool in breast cancer care, with applications ranging from mammogram interpretation to risk stratification and clinical decision support. While these technologies hold considerable promise, their integration into healthcare raises ethical issues. This paper examines four critical regions of this implementation: ethical guidelines, data privacy, responsibility and accessibility.

OxJournal is an academic platform for intellectually engaged young people. We publish high-quality, university-level research papers produced by 15-18 year olds under the supervision of an expert academic or researcher in their chosen field of study. We hope the papers published here will inspire you to further explore your own academic interests and potential.