The effects of puberty and sex on adolescent white matter development: A systematic review

Adolescence, the transition between childhood and adulthood, is characterized by rapid brain development in white matter (WM) that is attributed in part to rising levels in adrenal and gonadal hormones. The extent to which pubertal hormones and related neuroendocrine processes explain sex differences in WM during this period is unclear. In this systematic review, we sought to examine whether there are consistent associations between hormonal changes and morphological and microstructural properties of WM across species and whether these effects are sex-specific. We identified 90 (75 human, 15 non-human) studies that met inclusion criteria for our analyses. While studies in human adolescents show notable heterogeneity, results broadly demonstrate that increases in gonadal hormones across pubertal development are associated with macro- and microstructural changes in WM tracts that are consistent with the sex differences found in non-human animals, particularly in the corpus callosum. We discuss limitations of the current state of the science and recommend important future directions for investigators in the field to consider in order to advance our understanding of the neuroscience of puberty and to promote forward and backward translation across model organisms.

Automated summary

Adolescence is a period of rapid brain development, and the changes in white matter are partly attributed to hormonal fluctuations. This systematic review examines the associations between hormonal changes and white matter properties across species, with a focus on sex differences. The review finds that increases in gonadal hormones during puberty are associated with structural changes in white matter tracts, particularly in the corpus callosum, which align with findings in non-human animals. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research in order to further understand the neuroscience of puberty.