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The influence of puberty on subcortical brain development
Anne-Lise Goddings1, Kathryn L Mills2, Liv S Clasen3
1UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK; UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK.
Neuroimage
|October 15, 2013
Summary
Puberty significantly impacts brain development, influencing the volume of key subcortical regions like the amygdala and hippocampus. These changes occur alongside age-related development in both sexes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Human Anatomy
Background:
- Puberty involves extensive hormonal, physical, and psychological changes.
- The human brain undergoes significant maturation between childhood and adulthood.
- Limited research exists on puberty's specific influence on brain structural development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between pubertal development and structural changes in specific subcortical brain regions.
- To analyze how puberty influences the volume of the amygdala, hippocampus, and corpus striatum (including nucleus accumbens, caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus).
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study utilizing 711 MRI scans from 275 individuals aged 7-20 years.
- Examined structural volume changes in selected subcortical brain regions.
- Assessed the influence of pubertal development and age, including their interactive effects.
Main Results:
- Pubertal development showed a significant association with the structural volume of all six studied subcortical regions in both sexes.
- Independent and interactive effects of pubertal development and age were observed on the volume of the amygdala, hippocampus, putamen, and caudate (females).
- Interactive effects of puberty and age influenced the nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, and caudate (males).
Conclusions:
- Puberty plays a crucial role in the structural development of subcortical brain regions.
- Brain structural changes during puberty are influenced by both pubertal status and chronological age.
- Findings highlight the dynamic interplay between hormonal changes and brain maturation during adolescence.
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