Pubertal timing and tempo differentially influence cortical and subcortical maturation in adolescence

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Puberty is a developmental period marked by an influx of sex steroids, which trigger physical and psychological changes. Furthermore, puberty elicits changes in structural brain development that are distinct from those associated with chronological age. Emerging evidence suggests that interindividual differences in pubertal development, such as timing, whether one reaches puberty milestones before or after peers, and tempo, or whether one progresses through puberty at a slower or faster rate than peers, may also play a significant role in shaping structural brain development. The present study leverages longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development SM (ABCD Study®) to disentangle the influences of pubertal timing and tempo from chronological age on cortical and subcortical structural brain development during the adolescent period. Individuals with earlier timing tend to exhibit accelerated normative developmental trajectories compared to later timing peers, while individuals with faster tempos tend to exhibit thicker cortices, more cortical surface area, and greater subcortical volume compared to slower tempo peers. These findings underscore the significance of incorporating pubertal timing and tempo into models of structural brain development during puberty, thereby enhancing our understanding of variations in neurodevelopmental trajectories during adolescence.

Source: Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101657

Authors: Clare F. McCann, Theresa W. Cheng, Kathryn L. Mills, Jennifer A. Silvers

Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles, Harvard University, University of Oregon

Language: English

Topic: Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones

Subfield: Reproductive Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

OpenAlex ID: W4417279728