The DOI matches its Crossref record; 194 of the 196 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Social re-orientation and brain development: An expanded and updated view
Open accessAbstract
Social development has been the focus of a great deal of neuroscience based research over the past decade. In this review, we focus on providing a framework for understanding how changes in facets of social development may correspond with changes in brain function. We argue that (1) distinct phases of social behavior emerge based on whether the organizing social force is the mother, peer play, peer integration, or romantic intimacy; (2) each phase is marked by a high degree of affect-driven motivation that elicits a distinct response in subcortical structures; (3) activity generated by these structures interacts with circuits in prefrontal cortex that guide executive functions, and occipital and temporal lobe circuits, which generate specific sensory and perceptual social representations. We propose that the direction, magnitude and duration of interaction among these affective, executive, and perceptual systems may relate to distinct sensitive periods across development that contribute to establishing long-term patterns of brain function and behavior.
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“For healthy development, parental and caregiver input is a crucial component, especially during early development, whereas later in development the influence of peers becomes an additional important element of the social environment.25”
From The effects of social deprivation on adolescent development and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [25]
In the citing paper
“The onset of puberty seems to re-orient greater attention and salience toward social and emotional information-processing streams, which are particularly relevant to interest in romantic relationships and sexual behavior (Dahl, 2016, Nelson et al., 2016).”
From Becoming a sexual being: The “elephant in the room” of adolescent brain development (2017) · cites this paper as Nelson et al., 2016
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Citations
Cites
Diamond, A. (2013) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750 · Cited by 13,268
Erikson, E. H. (2026) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · doi:10.5281/zenodo.18614668 · Cited by 13,081
An Integrative Theory of Prefrontal Cortex Function
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“Indeed, the temporal lobe is ne of the latest to reach maturity (Gogtay et al., 2004).”
InfluentialThe cultural nature of human development
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“In some cultures, play involves ritualistic dance, in others it has more elements of hunting and chasing, and in still others it involves pretending to take on different adult roles (Whiting and Edwards, 1992; Rogoff, 2003; Konner, 2010).”
Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions
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“…of brain regions implicated in EF with the inverted-U shaped maturational pattern of brain regions implicated in affective processing in general (Ernst et al., 2006; Somerville et al., 2010), and affective processing in the social domain in particular (Steinberg, 2008; Smith et al., 2013).”
A Dynamic Systems Approach to the Development of Cognition and Action
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A dynamic systems approach to the development of cognition and action
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Items 401–447 of 447
Kuhney, F. S., Mittal, V. A., & Damme, K. S. F. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5004109
Taylor, K. S., Tattan‐Birch, H., Danka, M. N., Wright, L., Iob, E., Fancourt, D. E., & Kelly, Y. J. (2025) · SSM - Population Health · doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2025.101756
“This is in line with the social reorientation theory which posits that adolescent social interactions shift towards peers and away from caregivers (Nelson et al., 2016).”
Coleman, J., & Piszczek, K. (2025) · Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego eBooks · doi:10.18778/8331-619-2
Neurophysiological and Social Development During Adolescence
Field, T. A., & Ghoston, M. R. (2025) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781394347230.ch8
Self and Identity Development in AdolescencePreprint
Pfeifer, J. H., & Berkman, E. T. (2017) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/wh7nt_v1
School Bullying and its Link to Authoritative Teaching and Peer Relations in the Classroom
Kloo, M. (2025) · Linköping studies in behavioural science · doi:10.3384/9789181180725
Tang, A., Kim, T., & Yoon, L. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5235803
Cortisol and testosterone jointly affect adolescent fairness
Su, R., Wang, H., Ma, X., Sun, N., & Liu, C. (2025) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107520
Politte‐Corn, M., Brooker, R. J., Goldsmith, H. H., & Buss, K. A. (2025) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.70056
“…these associations prior to the peripubertal period and inform subsequent developmental trajectories, given that puberty is characterized by substantial neurobiological and social changes and increased risk for clinical levels of internalizing symptoms (Nelson et al. 2016; Pfeifer and Allen 2021).”
Zhou, J., Chen, X., Li, D., Liu, J., Cui, L., & Zhou, T. (2025) · The Journal of Early Adolescence · doi:10.1177/02724316251391413 · Cited by 1
“…childhood, social competence often centers on caregiver-mediated skills and behaviors (e.g., following adults ’ directions, emotional regulation; Nelson et al., 2016), whereas in late adolescence, establishing and maintaining intimate dyadic relationships and sophisticated social skills such…”
InfluentialMotivating and Supporting Youth to Vote Using Theory‐Driven Approaches
Cosme, D., Lydic, K. O., Reinero, D. A., Sinclair, A. H., & Falk, E. B. (2025) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/spc3.70110
Redes Sociales, Desarrollo Socioemocional y Aislamiento Social en Adolescentes
Jiménez, M. A. O. (2025) · VISUAL REVIEW International Visual Culture Review / Revista Internacional de Cultura Visual · doi:10.62161/revvisual.v17.5926
Random Roommates, Broader Minds: Why Higher Ed Should Invest in Intergroup Contact
Gaither, S. E., Naidu, E. S., & Reilly, E. B. (2025) · Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1177/23727322251404918
“As close friendships replace family as the main source of in fl uence (Nelson et al., 2016), students become particularly sensitive to peer norms and expectations.”
Swartz, J. R., Barendse, M. E. A., Taylor, S. L., Fine, J. R., Ruttle, P. L., Shirtcliff, E. A., & Guyer, A. E. (2026) · Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2026.101796
“…these regions and the cingulo-opercular network are unmasked by advances in pubertal development, as the adolescent re-orientation towards peers that accompanies puberty also provides new contexts for practicing reward-related decision-making (Hartley and Somerville, 2015; Nelson et al., 2016).”
Kuhney, F. S., Mittal, V. A., & Damme, K. S. F. (2026) · JAACAP Open · doi:10.1016/j.jaacop.2025.12.006
“2,6 During this period of social reorientation, peer social acceptance and social context play a crucial role in shaping behavior.”
Neural sensitivity to peer hierarchies: Risks for depressive symptoms for low status adolescents
Capella, J., Jorgensen, N. A., Kwon, S., Maza, M. T., Prinstein, M. J., Lindquist, K. A., & Telzer, E. H. (2026) · Journal of Research on Adolescence · doi:10.1111/jora.70136
“During early adolescence, neurobiological changes in regions implicated in salience and valuation increase the importance of peer hierarchies, norms, and feedback (Blakemore & Mills, 2014; Foulkes & Blakemore, 2016; Nelson et al., 2016; Somerville, 2013).”
Marshall, L. E., & Roters, J. (2026) · doi:10.1002/9781394161102.ch5
Wilkinson, R., Kim, E. S., Chen, Y., Holt-Lunstad, J., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2026) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.118993
Luca, G. D., Baeyens, D., Meixner, G., Khau, T., Benvenuti, M., & Mazzoni, E. (2026) · European Journal of Psychology of Education · doi:10.1007/s10212-025-01059-w
“The ecological validity and sense of “being there” afforded by immersive VR may thus enhance the authenticity of emotional engagement, particularly among adolescents for whom social feedback is especially salient (Nelson et al., 2016).”
Moncel, C., Dauvier, B., Guiller, T., & Osmont, A. (2026) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-025-08657-3
“…until mid-adolescence (Fryt et al., 2021 ), which can benefit them in terms of well-being, development of new skills, and empowerment, and can also help guide their future decisions (Ciranka & Bos, 2021 ; Duell & Steinberg., 2020; Fryt et al., 2021; Nelson et al., 2016; Romer et al., 2017).”
Maçãs-Carvalho, I., Rijo, D., Brazão, N., & Canavarro, M. C. (2026) · School Mental Health · doi:10.1007/s12310-026-09863-5
“This developmental stage is marked by numerous changes, during which peer relationships became especially important, significantly impacting mental well-being (Blakemore & Mills, 2014; El Khatib et al., 2022; Nelson et al., 2005, 2016; Vitaro et al., 2009 ; Westhoff et al., 2020).”
Michalek, J. E., Bates, K. E., van Loggerenberg, F., Ougrin, D., & Lau, J. Y. F. (2026) · JCPP Advances · doi:10.1002/jcv2.70113
“As children transition into adolescence, their peer relationships and socialising in the school environment becomes more salient (e.g., Kiuru et al., 2019; Nelson et al., 2016) (but see T. Cheng et al., 2024).”
Ojha, A., Henry, T. R., Jones, N. P., Shirtcliff, E. A., & Ladouceur, C. D. (2026) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/s41386-026-02378-2
“Although changing dynamics within mesocorticolimbic connections facilitate adaptive socio-affective learning [8, 9] to support increasingly complex demands important for adult independence [10], they may also confer neuropsychiatric risk during this period of development [11 – 13].”
Burns, M., Lah, S. S., Law, C., Schilstra, C. E., Ellis, S. J., Wakefield, C. E., Sansom‐Daly, U. M., Cohn, R. J., Marshall, G. M., Lum, A., et al. (2026) · Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology · doi:10.1177/21565333261438095
Politte‐Corn, M., Myruski, S., & Buss, K. A. (2026) · Journal of Research on Adolescence · doi:10.1111/jora.70194
“Peer relationships become particularly salient during adolescence (Larson & Richards, 1991; Nelson et al., 2016), and social anxiety has been consistently linked with low levels of peer acceptance and/or high levels of peer rejection (e.g., Greco & Morris, 2005; La Greca & Harrison, 2005; La Greca…”
Adjustment of Adolescents and Young Adults to the Level of Risk in Ambiguous Risk‐Taking Situation
Moncel, C., Dauvier, B., Guiller, T., & Osmont, A. (2026) · Journal of Behavioral Decision Making · doi:10.1002/bdm.70086
Friendships and Coping Among Adolescents with LGBTQ+ Parents
Withrow, J. S., Kulkarni, N. U., & Farr, R. H. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16060977
“Adolescence is universally recognized in developmental science as a period of profound biological, psychological, and social change (Casey et al., 2008; Nelson et al., 2016).”
Belief in the Importance of Belonging Mitigates the Negative Effects of Unsociable Withdrawal
Pfanz, R. A., Lease, A. M., Barger, M. M., Neuharth-Pritchett, S. M., & Kim, M. (2026) · The Elementary School Journal · doi:10.1086/742021
Arrington, M. N., Swartz, J. R., Fine, J., & Guyer, A. E. (2026) · Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2026.101774
“The social brain undergoes significant developmental changes in adolescence (Blakemore, 2008) that co-occur with changes in social context (Pfeifer and Allen, 2021; Nelson et al., 2016), preparing adolescents for peer relationships (Roisman et al., 2004).”
InfluentialEmotional Valence Influences Empathic Capacity in Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Topsfield, A. J., & Grainger, S. A. (2026) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1002/jad.70216
“This is because adolescence is an important developmental period characterized by a process of social reorientation (Nelson et al. 2005; Nelson et al. 2016) where establishing relationships with peers is crucial for broader wellbeing (Mitic et al. 2021; Truong and Joshi 2024).”
Abdallah, N., Katmah, R., Khalaf, K. A., & Jelinek, H. F. (2026) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2026.101208
Rappaport, B. I., Glazer, J. E., Letkiewicz, A. M., Li, L. Y., McGregor, M. M., Sarkas, S. E., Sritharan, A., Massac, L. A., Durham, K., Auerbach, R. P., et al. (2026) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579426101722
“Additionally, since adolescence is a time of increased neuroplasticity and heightened salience of peers (Nelson et al., 2016), those living in a rejecting/ discriminating environment who are also insensitive to acceptance may be particularly vulnerable during adolescence.”
Dollar, J. M., Behler, M. H., Postlethwait, E. M., Villarreal, A., Murray, E., & Maher, J. P. (2026) · Frontiers in Developmental Psychology · doi:10.3389/fdpys.2026.1838897
Klesl, M., Liebenwein, C., & Schmuck, D. (2026) · Journal of Children and Media · doi:10.1080/17482798.2026.2705214 · Cited by 2
Debra, G., Michels, N., & Giletta, M. (2026) · Journal of Research on Adolescence · doi:10.1111/jora.70245
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Arbabi, K., Yeh, C. J., Sangkar, P. R., & Amiri, M. (2026) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-026-09989-4
“…factors may disrupt adolescents’ engagement in developmentally important activities, including social exploration, goal pursuit, and identity formation, and have been associated with broader mental health concerns such as suicidality and schizotypal traits (Holt et al., 2015; Nelson et al., 2016).”
McKone, K. M. P., Roediger, D. J., Sequeira, S. L., Island, E., Luciana, M. M., Fiecas, M. J. A., Mueller, B. A., Klimes‐Dougan, B., & Cullen, K. R. (2026) · Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2026.101806
“The pattern of associations aligns with established research on functional brain development in adolescence (Crone and Dahl, 2012; Nelson et al., 2016), supporting the notion that entropy may be one marker of the opening of various neural systems at puberty (Crone and Dahl, 2012; Larsen and Luna,…”
Zhou, Z., Yang, X., Mai, L., Hong, H., & Kou, Y. (2026) · Journal of Happiness Studies · doi:10.1007/s10902-026-01107-2
“Given the many physical, psychologi - cal, cognitive, and social changes that occur during early adolescence (Nelson et al., 2016; Smetana et al., 2006), early adolescence represents a critical period for the development of BJW (Dalbert & Stoeber, 2006; Piaget, 1932/1997), prosocial behavior…”
Yu, Y., Wang, Y., Gu, L., Kang, P., Yang, Y., Hu, L., & Yu, T. (2026) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.108334
Effects of parental stress-buffering on multiple measures of positive valence systems functioning
Zhou, Z., Sejourne, C., Panier, L. Y. X., Allison, G. O., Argiros, A. P., & Weinberg, A. (2026) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579426101862
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Mayr, L. M., Salemink, E., Waters, A. M., & Platt, B. (2026) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-026-03198-x
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Hill, K. E., & Chua, K. J. (2026) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.107000
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Metadata
- Authors
- Nelson, E. E., Jarcho, J. M., & Guyer, A. E.
- Affiliations
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Nelson, Eric E.
- Venue
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-02
- Volume
- 17
- Pages
- 118-127
- ISSN
- 1878-9293 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6990069
- OpenAlex
- W2217470353
- Cited by
- 447
- References
- 196
- Citations by year
- 2026: 41 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 55 · 2022: 54 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 65 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 11
- FWCI
- 4.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Intramural Research Program of NIMH (EEN & JMJ)
- NIH (R01-MH098370, R01-MH093605)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- social development (developmental psychology), brain development, sensitive period, affective motivation, subcortical structures, prefrontal cortex, executive function, social representations, mother-child interaction, peer play, peer integration, romantic intimacy
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Humans, Motivation, Nerve Net, Peer Group, Sexual Behavior, Social Behavior, Temporal Lobe, Prefrontal Cortex
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