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Cited by 214Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentDecision-Making and Behavioral Economics

Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

Open access
Smith, Ashley R., Chein, Jason, Steinberg, Laurence·2013·Hormones and Behavior
DOI 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.03.006PMC PMC3761223
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Abstract

While there is little doubt that risk-taking is generally more prevalent during adolescence than before or after, the underlying causes of this pattern of age differences have long been investigated and debated. One longstanding popular notion is the belief that risky and reckless behavior in adolescence is tied to the hormonal changes of puberty. However, the interactions between pubertal maturation and adolescent decision making remain largely understudied. In the current review, we discuss changes in decision making during adolescence, focusing on the asynchronous development of the affective, reward-focused processing system and the deliberative, reasoned processing system. As discussed, differential maturation in the structure and function of brain systems associated with these systems leaves adolescents particularly vulnerable to socio-emotional influences and risk-taking behaviors. We argue that this asynchrony may be partially linked to pubertal influences on development and specifically on the maturation of the affective, reward-focused processing system.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review argues that adolescent risk-taking reflects an imbalance between a rapidly sensitized affective/reward system and a slower-maturing cognitive-control system, with puberty likely influencing mainly reward sensitivity. It calls for more direct research because existing evidence is indirect, inconsistent, and insufficient for firm conclusions.

Key findings

  • The authors propose that puberty has a stronger impact on reward sensitivity and sensation-seeking than on cognitive control and self-regulation; behavioral evidence links sensation-seeking more closely to pubertal maturation than to chronological age, and animal and human hormone studies tie testosterone/estradiol to greater reward seeking.
  • In a cross-sectional analysis of more than 7,500 people aged 12–24, sensation-seeking followed an inverted-U pattern peaking in mid-adolescence, while impulsivity declined linearly across adolescence and into young adulthood.
  • Neuroimaging results are mixed but often suggest adolescent hypersensitivity to reward: one study found mid/late pubertal adolescents showed weaker striatal and stronger prefrontal responses to reward than pre/early pubertal peers, while another found testosterone positively associated with striatal reward activation in 10–16-year-olds. Rodent data indicate striatal dopamine receptor binding peaks in adolescence at 30–45% above adult levels.
  • Context matters: in laboratory tasks, adolescents resemble adults under “cold” conditions but take more risks under “hot” conditions, such as turning over more cards when given immediate feedback and driving more riskily when observed by peers.

Methods

  • Narrative review and speculative synthesis, not an empirical study; it integrates behavioral, neuroimaging, animal, and hormonal literature to sort puberty-dependent from puberty-independent processes in adolescent decision making.
  • No new sample, data collection, or statistical analysis is reported; the authors describe selected studies and advance hypotheses, especially a dual-systems account.

Limitations

  • Stated by the authors: few studies directly examine puberty and decision making; constructs and measures vary widely; puberty is measured inconsistently; age and puberty are confounded; findings support hypotheses rather than firm conclusions; social experiences may influence pubertal timing, complicating causal direction.
  • Evident from the text: as a narrative review, it does not describe a systematic search or formal quality appraisal, and it relies on indirect and sometimes contradictory evidence, including conflicting findings the authors themselves note (e.g., Forbes et al. versus Op de Macks et al.; Warren and Brooks-Gunn versus Steinberg et al.).

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.03.006

Cites

133 of 133 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 126 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Interpretationreasoning
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    Although pubertal hormones may incline adolescents toward sensation-seeking, puberty onset is unlikely to immediately trigger a rampage of recklessness.

    “although pubertal hormones may incline the adolescent toward sensation-seeking, it is unlikely that the onset of puberty immediately triggers a rampage of recklessness.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationreasoning
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    This asynchrony may be partially linked to pubertal influences on development, especially on affective processing.

    “This asynchrony, we argue, may be partially linked to pubertal influences on development and, especially, to pubertal influences on affective processing.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Interpretationreasoning
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    Normative changes in adolescents' social context may contribute to changes in decision making and to increased risk-taking.

    “normative changes in the context in which individuals live during adolescence may contribute to changes in decision making, and to the increase in risk-taking in particular.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationreasoning
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    Some changes in risk-taking and decision making may occur at the same time as puberty but be independent of it.

    “some changes in risk-taking and decision making may coincide with puberty, but be independent of it.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationreasoning
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    Because parental supervision typically weakens from childhood to adolescence, increased risky behavior may result from greater opportunity.

    “because there is typically a weakening of parental supervision as individuals transition from childhood into adolescence, increases in risky behavior may be the consequence of greater opportunity to engage in behaviors that at earlier periods of development had been deterred by the presence of parents.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 10
  • May combine two claims. 42
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    Variations in sensation-seeking and self-regulation are associated with variations in behaviors, including risk-taking.

    “Variations in sensation-seeking and self regulation, in turn, are associated with variations in behaviors, including risk-taking”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisenone given
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    Aspects of self-control have been linked to functioning of brain regions that support cognitive control.

    “Aspects of self-control have been linked to the functioning of brain regions and systems that subserve cognitive control (e.g., lateral prefronal, lateral parietal, and anterior cingulate cortices).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    On average, puberty occurs when antisocial peer influence is still relatively weak and parental monitoring is still relatively vigilant.

    “Puberty, on average, takes place when antisocial peer influence is still relatively weak and parental monitoring is still relatively vigilant (Collins & Steinberg, 2006).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Collins & Steinberg, 2006

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisenone given

    Dual-systems models characterize decision making as an interaction between controlled, reasoned, deliberative processes and reactive, emotional, reward-sensitive processes.

    “models of decision making, which characterize decision making as the byproduct of an interaction between processes that support controlled, reasoned, and deliberative behavior and those that drive reactive, emotional, and reward-sensitive responding.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    The relation between puberty and reward-sensitivity or cognitive control may differ from the relation between puberty and sensation-seeking or self-regulation, and the latter may differ from the relation between puberty and actual risk-taking.

    “the relation between puberty and reward-sensitivity or cognitive control may be different from that between puberty and sensation-seeking or self regulation, and the relation between puberty and sensation-seeking or self regulation may not be the same as that between puberty and actual risk-taking.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    The sharpest increase in risky behavior may occur later than the peak in pubertal change or sensation-seeking because real-world risk taking is influenced by many factors.

    “the sharpest increase in risky behavior may occur later in development than the peak in pubertal change or the peak in sensation-seeking, because real-world risk taking is influenced by a wide constellation of factors”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The Columbia Card Task results indicate increased sensitivity of adolescents to affective manipulation and a consequent increase in risky decision making.

    “The results indicate the increased sensitivity of adolescent participants to the affective manipulation, and the consequent increase in the tendency to engage in risky decision making.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    Puberty and risky behavior are related, but they should not be expected to move in perfect lockstep.

    “Although we argue that puberty and risky behavior are related, it would be foolish to expect that they move together in perfect lockstep.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In the Columbia Card Task, participants of all ages increased risk-taking in the hot version, but the effect was greatest among adolescents, who turned over significantly more cards than adults.

    “Regardless of age, participants increased their rate of risk-taking in the “hot” version of the task, but the effect of the feedback manipulation was greatest among the adolescent groups, who turned over significantly more cards in the “hot” version than did the adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Figner et al., 2009 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    The Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale includes items that assess impulsivity.

    “the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (Zuckerman, Eysenck, & Eysenck, 1978), perhaps the most widely used self-report measure of sensation-seeking, includes items such as “I often do things on impulse,””
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Zuckerman, Eysenck, & Eysenck, 1978 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Impact of socio-emotional context, brain development, and pubertal maturation on adolescent risk-taking

    Sensation-seeking and impulsivity are different constructs, but self-report measures of them often contain overlapping items.

    “although sensation-seeking and impulsivity are entirely different constructs (e.g., one can pursue a novel or exciting goal with a great degree of planning and self-control), self-report measures of these constructs often contain overlapping items”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Steinberg et al., 2008

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In the Stoplight driving game, overall risk-taking and crashes did not differ between adolescents and adults when playing alone.

    “Overall rates of risk-taking (and subsequent crashes) did not differ between adolescents and adults when the game was played alone (the “cold” setting).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Chein et al., 2011 source

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    Premisecitation

    In the Stoplight driving game, with a peer audience, adolescents significantly increased risk-taking while adults did not.

    “when tested with a peer audience (the “hot” setting), adolescents showed a significant increase in risk-taking, whereas adults did not.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Chein et al., 2011 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The differential temporal correlations between cognitive development, affective development, and pubertal change suggest that puberty plays a differential role in each pathway, with a particularly strong impact on the affective pathway.

    “These differential temporal correlations between cognitive development, affective development, and pubertal change provide clues that puberty plays a differential role in the development of each pathway, with puberty having an especially strong impact on the development of the affective pathway.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Warren and Brooks-Gunn used an Impulse Control subscale with many items that are questionable indices of impulsivity and more reflective of negative affectivity, whereas Steinberg et al. used the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, which has better face validity.

    “Warren and Brooks-Gunn used items from the Impulse Control subscale of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (Offer, Ostrov, & Howard, 1981), on which more than half of the items are questionable indices of impulsivity, and appear to be more reflective of negative affectivity”
    • Also stated in: § Pubertal influences on behavior · plain
      “whereas Steinberg et al. used items from the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, which has better face validity as a measure of impulse control.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Offer, Ostrov, & Howard, 1981

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Only two relevant studies have examined pubertal maturation and self-regulation development, and they have conflicting results.

    “We are aware of just two relevant studies, and these studies have conflicting results.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Adolescence is an important time of change for certain cognitive and affective processes, with behavioral and brain-related evidence.

    “there is both behavioral and brain-related evidence suggesting that adolescence is an important time of change for certain cognitive and affective processes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    This affective network governs reward sensitivity and is thought to influence sensation-seeking.

    “This network, which governs reward sensitivity, among other functions, is thought to influence the suite of inclinations we refer to as “sensation-seeking.””
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Processes underlying affective responding exhibit an inverted-U shaped developmental pattern that is most dramatic during the first part of adolescence, the most significant period of pubertal development.

    “the processes that underlie affective responding exhibit an inverted-U shaped pattern of developmental change that is most dramatic during the first part of adolescence (Steinberg, Cauffman, et al., 2009; Cauffman et al., 2010), the most significant period of pubertal development.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Steinberg, Cauffman, et al., 2009

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    • cites Cauffman et al., 2010 source

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    Interpretationcitation

    Adults are less sensitive to affective inputs than adolescents because affective pathway responsiveness may be attenuated in adulthood and because adults have more mature cognitive control.

    “adults are less sensitive to these affective inputs both because the responsiveness of the affective pathway may be attenuated in adulthood, and because adults possess a more fully matured capacity for cognitive control that allows impulsive, reactive, responses to be held in check (Chein et al., 2011).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Chein et al., 2011 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In humans, naturally high testosterone is associated with elevated reward-seeking, decreased punishment avoidance, and disadvantageous decision making on the Iowa Gambling Task.

    “individuals with naturally high levels of testosterone exhibited elevated reward-seeking and decreased punishment avoidance, resulting in disadvantageous decision making”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Stanton et al., 2011 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Studies directly examining puberty and negative affectivity find they are positively correlated among females, which may account for the Warren and Brooks-Gunn finding.

    “studies directly examining puberty and negative affectivity find that they are positively correlated among females (Negriff & Susman, 2011), which may account for the Warren and Brooks-Gunn finding.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Negriff & Susman, 2011

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Because self-regulation development does not parallel pubertal development, few studies have explored the direct relationship between pubertal maturation and self-regulation development.

    “Given that the protracted development of this ability does not parallel the course of pubertal development, it is perhaps unsurprising that few studies have explored the direct relationship between pubertal maturation and the development of self-regulation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Warren and Brooks-Dunn (1989) reported a curvilinear trend in self-reported impulse control and pubertal stage, with impulse control heightened in early and late puberty but low at intermediate stages; the effect increased when chronological age was controlled.

    “Warren and Brooks-Dunn (1989) reported a curvilinear trend, in which impulse control is heightened during early and late puberty but low at intermediate stages. They found that this effect was further increased when chronological age was controlled.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Warren and Brooks-Dunn (1989)

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Testosterone and/or estradiol administration increases conditioned place preference, lever pressing for drug and saccharin, and reward-related brain stimulation in animals.

    “administrations of testosterone and/or estradiol have been tied to increased conditioned place preference (Alexander, Packard, & Hines, 1994), lever pressing for drug and saccharin administration (Clark, Lindenfield, & Gibbons, 1996; Miele, Rosellin, & Svare, 1988), and reward-related brain stimulation (Bless et al., 1997).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Alexander, Packard, & Hines, 1994

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    • cites Clark, Lindenfield, & Gibbons, 1996

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    • cites Bless et al., 1997 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The cognitive control network is involved in self-regulation, the ability to withhold prepotent responses in favor of deliberative, planned, goal-directed actions.

    “this “cognitive control” network of brain regions is often described with respect to its involvement in self-regulation, the ability to withhold prepotent responding in favor of deliberative, planned, goal-directed, and contextually appropriate actions”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Botvinick, Braver, Barch, Carter, & Cohen, 2001 source

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    • cites Chein & Schneider, 2005, 2012

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    • cites Miller & Cohen, 2001 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In cross-sectional data from more than 7500 individuals aged 12 to 24, self-reported sensation-seeking followed an inverted-U function peaking in mid-adolescence, while impulsivity declined linearly over adolescence and into young adulthood.

    “self-reported sensation-seeking followed an inverted-U shaped function, peaking in mid-adolescence, whereas impulsivity declined linearly over the course of adolescence and into young adulthood”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Harden & Tucker-Drob, 2011

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    Premisecitation

    Steinberg et al. found that impulsivity, measured by self-report and a behavioral task, correlated with chronological age but not pubertal status.

    “Steinberg and colleagues found that impulsivity, as indexed both by self-report and performance on a behavioral task, was correlated with chronological age but not pubertal status (Steinberg et al., 2008).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Steinberg et al., 2008

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Many laboratory studies of age differences in risky decision making minimize socio-emotional and situational factors, so they mainly observe cold analytical decision making.

    “many laboratory studies of age differences in risky decision making purposefully minimize socio-emotional and situational factors that are present in everyday situations. Accordingly, these studies only observe the type of decision making that results from relatively slow, “cold,” analytical processes, in the absence of strong affective inputs.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Sensation-seeking is likely influenced by reward-sensitivity and follows a developmental trajectory that peaks in adolescence and declines through adulthood.

    “Sensation-seeking is likely influenced by reward-sensitivity and follows a similar developmental trajectory, peaking during adolescence and declining through adulthood”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Steinberg et al., 2008

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    • cites Zuckerman et al., 1978 source

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    Premisecitation

    Sensation seeking and substance use are closely tied to testosterone release in males and estrogen release in females.

    “Sensation seeking and substance use have also been closely tied to testosterone release in males (Bauman et al., 1989; Daitzman & Zuckerman, 1980) and estrogen release in females (Daitzman et al., 1978; Martin et al., 1999).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bauman et al., 1989 source

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    • cites Daitzman & Zuckerman, 1980

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    • cites Daitzman et al., 1978 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    According to the dual-systems account, the reactive hot pathway is hypersensitive during adolescence, and socio-emotional contextual factors activate it.

    “According to the dual-systems account, the reactive, “hot,” pathway is in a state of hypersensitivity during adolescence, and socio-emotional contextual factors provide a drive to activation of this hypersensitive system.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Many basic cognitive, information-processing, and reasoning skills reach adult-like levels before mid-adolescence and do not change substantially thereafter.

    “Many basic cognitive, information-processing, and reasoning skills reach adult-like levels before mid-adolescence, and do not change substantially thereafter (Steinberg, Cauffman et al., 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Steinberg, Cauffman et al., 2009

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    Premisecitation

    Recent studies demonstrate that organizational changes occur during adolescence and may be critical for activational changes to take place.

    “recent studies have demonstrated that there are organizational changes occurring during adolescence as well, and, moreover, that these organizational changes may be critical for activational changes to take place”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Meek et al., 1997 source

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    • cites Schulz et al., 2004 source

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    • cites Sisk & Zehr, 2005 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Activational changes are transient, and affected brain systems often return to their pre-activated state when hormone levels subside.

    “Activational changes are considered transient, and the brain systems affected by them often return to their pre-activated state when hormone levels subside”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sisk & Zehr, 2005 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Adolescence is characterized by decreases in gray matter volume and increases in white matter volume.

    “Adolescence is characterized by two critical structural changes in the brain: decreases in gray matter volume (neuronal bodies) and increases in white matter volume (myelinated axons).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Findings on whether performance on control measures can be affected by reward availability are mixed, but provide evidence that developmental differences in control can be reduced or eliminated when successful performance is directly and adequately rewarded.

    “The findings are somewhat mixed, but provide evidence that developmental differences in control can be reduced (or eliminated) when successful performance is directly and adequately rewarded.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Geier, et al., 2010 source

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    • cites Hardin et al., 2007

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    • cites Jazbec, et al., 2006 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In an emotional Go/No-Go task, adolescents but not children or adults exhibited greater striatal response to happy compared to neutral faces, and during hot trials adolescents had significantly more false alarms than any other age group.

    “In both conditions, adolescents, but not children or adults, exhibited greater striatal response to happy compared to neutral faces, demonstrating a hypersensitivity to affective stimuli. More important, during the “hot” trials, adolescents had significantly more false alarms”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sommerville, Hare, and Casey (2011)

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Organizational changes are permanent changes in brain structure and organization initiated by hormone release but not dependent on continuing hormone release.

    “organizational changes are permanent changes in the structure and organization of brain regions that are initiated by the release of hormones but not dependent on continuing hormone release”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sisk & Zehr, 2005 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The ability to suppress a response in adults was correlated with increased frontostriatal connectivity, suggesting increased connectivity between reward and self-regulation regions may be responsible for decreases in risk-taking behavior into adulthood.

    “the ability to suppress a response in adults was correlated with increased frontostriatal connectivity, suggesting that the increased connectivity between reward and self-regulation regions may be responsible for decreases in risk-taking behavior into adulthood.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sommerville, Hare, and Casey (2011)

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The mid/late pubertal adolescent group did not differ from the adult group in reward processing, suggesting a near mature reward processing system by the end of puberty.

    “The mid/late pubertal adolescent group did not differ from the adult group, suggesting that a near mature reward processing system is in place by the end of puberty.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Forbes and colleagues (2010)

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The limbic/paralimbic reward network is centrally involved in processing social and emotional stimuli and includes neural circuits that mediate reward-sensitivity.

    “This network is centrally involved in the processing of social and emotional stimuli (e.g., face recognition, social judgments, social reasoning; Adolphs, 2003) and, importantly, includes neural circuits that mediate reward-sensitivity (Spear, 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Adolphs, 2003 source

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    • cites Spear, 2009

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Puberty can affect adolescent decision-making indirectly by altering how an adolescent whose physical appearance is changing interacts with others.

    “puberty may also affect adolescent decision-making indirectly, by influencing the ways in which an adolescent whose outward appearance is changing interacts with others.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    There is reason to think that the impact of pubertal hormones on risk taking might be stronger among early maturers than on-time or late maturers, in part because early maturers experience hormonal changes at younger ages when self-regulatory competencies are less mature.

    “there is reason to think that the impact of pubertal hormones on risk taking might be stronger among early maturers than on-time or late maturers, in part because early maturers experience these hormonal changes at younger ages, when their self-regulatory competencies are less mature”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Steinberg, 2008

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Brain development does not follow a single global pattern; different brain systems involved in cognitive control and reward processing undergo asynchronous periods of change.

    “brain development does not follow a single global pattern, but instead, that the different brain systems involved in cognitive control and reward processing seem to undergo asynchronous periods of change”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The magnitude of striatal activity during decision making is correlated with self-reported risk-taking and predicts whether a risk will be taken.

    “the magnitude of striatal activity during decision making has been found to be correlated with self-reported risk-taking (Galvan et al., 2006) and to be predictive of whether or not a risk will be taken (Chein et al., 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Galvan et al., 2006 source

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    • cites Chein et al., 2011 source

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    Premisecitation

    Testosterone levels were negatively correlated with striatal response to reward outcome, but in boys testosterone was positively correlated with reward anticipation.

    “testosterone levels were negatively correlated with striatal response to reward outcome”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Forbes and colleagues (2010)

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescent rats show greater dopamine release than adults in response to certain rewarding stimuli despite lower basal dopamine release.

    “Despite evidence for lower basal levels of dopamine release in adolescent (relative to adult) rats, adolescent rats evince greater dopamine release than adults in response to certain rewarding stimuli”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Laviola, Pascucci, & Pieretti, 2001

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    Premisecitation

    Recent research indicates functional connectivity increases steadily throughout adolescence, reaching a plateau around age 22, around the time rates of most risky behavior have begun to decline.

    “Recent research indicates that functional connectivity increases steadily throughout adolescence, reaching a plateau around age 22 (Dosenbach et al., 2010), around the time that rates of most forms of risky behavior have already begun to decline.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Dosenbach et al., 2010 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The ways puberty affects decision making likely vary according to the context in which the adolescent develops.

    “it is likely that the ways in which puberty affects decision making vary as a function of the context in which the adolescent develops.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    In laboratory settings, puberty might be linked to risky decision making.

    “Puberty may be associated with risky decision making in the laboratory”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Whether puberty's association with risky decision making extends to the real world depends on opportunities to engage in risky behavior.

    “whether this plays out in the real world depends on opportunities for engaging in risky behavior.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
52 of 52

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Heightened reward sensitivity is implicated in increased sensation-seeking, novelty-seeking, attention to reward, emotional arousal, and attention to social information.

    “Heightened sensitivity to reward is implicated in increased sensation- and novelty-seeking, attention to reward, emotional arousal, and attention to social information.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Post-pubertal levels of sex hormones remain high long after sensation-seeking begins to decline.

    “The fact that post-pubertal levels of sex hormones remain high long after sensation-seeking begins to decline”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Puberty occurs alongside numerous other developmental changes in adolescence.

    “because puberty coincides with many other changes in adolescent functioning”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • A decrease in reward sensitivity occurs during later adolescence and into young adulthood as the reward system becomes desensitized to pubertal hormones.

    “Although pubertal hormones do not decline into adulthood, we posit that a decrease in reward sensitivity ensues during later adolescence and into young adulthood as the reward system becomes desensitized to the effects of these hormones (Smith et al., 2013).”

    From The dual systems model: Review, reappraisal, and reaffirmation (2016) · cites this paper as Smith et al., 2013

    In “Pubertal influences on brain development” (page unavailable), the paper says reward sensitivity decreases in later pubertal maturation and that this perhaps suggests desensitization to gonadal hormones. It does not establish that the decrease continues into young adulthood; its cited comparison found no difference between mid/late-pubertal adolescents and adults. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The developmental course of the socioemotional system is closely tied to pubertal development, unlike the cognitive control system.

    “the model hypothesizes that the developmental course of the socioemotional system is, unlike the development of the cognitive control system, closely tied to pubertal development”

    From The dual systems model: Review, reappraisal, and reaffirmation (2016) · cites this paper as Smith et al., 2013

  • The ongoing development of self-regulation into early adulthood is also in line with the idea that the development of self-regulation is independent of pubertal development.

    “Importantly, the ongoing development of self-regulation into early adulthood is also in line with the idea that the development of self-regulation is independent of pubertal development (Smith et al., 2013).”

    From The dual systems model: Review, reappraisal, and reaffirmation (2016) · cites this paper as Smith et al., 2013

  • Dual systems models emphasize asynchronous development of the neural systems underlying sensation seeking and self-regulation.

    “Dual systems models highlight the asynchronous development of the neural systems that underlie sensation seeking – the tendency to seek varied, novel, complex and intense sensations and experiences [20] – and self-regulation – the deliberate modulation of one’s thoughts, feelings or actions in the pursuit of planned goals [21, 22].”

    From The role of the anterior insula in adolescent decision making (2014) · cites this paper as [18]

Cites

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Related

Authors
Smith, A. R., Chein, J., & Steinberg, L.
Affiliations
Temple University (US)
Corresponding author
Smith, Ashley R.
ORCID
Venue
Hormones and Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-07
Volume
64
Issue
2
Pages
323-332
ISSN
0018-506X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.03.006
PMC
PMC3761223
OpenAlex
W2003794799
Semantic Scholar
d97d498086c24535674657aad7ac89ee6bb4416e
Cited by
214
References
132
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 11
FWCI
1.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA020006)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21DA022546)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Keywords
adolescent risk-taking, pubertal development, brain development, decision-making, reward processing, emotional processing, deliberative processes
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Brain, Emotions, Humans, Puberty, Risk-Taking, Sexual Maturation, Social Environment, Adolescent Development

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-06.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-06.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

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