Review
White matter development in adolescence: The influence of puberty and implications for affective disorders

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Abstract

There have been rapid advances in understanding a broad range of changes in brain structure and function during adolescence, and a growing interest in identifying which of these neurodevelopmental changes are directly linked with pubertal maturation—at least in part because of their potential to provide insights into the numerous emotional and behavioral health problems that emerge during this developmental period. This review focuses on what is known about the influence of puberty on white matter development in adolescence. We focus on white matter because of its role in providing the structural architectural organization of the brain and as a structural correlate of communication within complex neural systems. We begin with a review of studies that report sex differences or sex by age interactions in white matter development as these findings can provide, although indirectly, information relevant to puberty-related changes. Studies are also critically reviewed based on methodological procedures used to assess pubertal maturation and relations with white matter changes. Findings are discussed in light of their implications for the development of neural systems underlying the regulation of emotion and behavior and how alterations in the development of these systems may mediate risk for affective disorders in vulnerable adolescents.

Highlights

* A description of puberty and importance of methods used to assess pubertal maturation. * A review of studies focusing on sex differences and white matter development. * A review of studies focusing on puberty and white matter development. * Discussion of implications for onset of affective disorders in adolescence.

Keywords

Puberty
White matter development
White matter volume
Diffusion tensor imaging
Affective disorders

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