Cited by 169Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentNeuroendocrine regulation and behavior

The relationship between puberty and social emotion processing

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Goddings, Anne‐Lise, Burnett Heyes, Stephanie, Bird, Geoffrey, Viner, Russell M., Blakemore, Sarah‐Jayne·2012·Developmental Science

Abstract

The social brain undergoes developmental change during adolescence, and pubertal hormones are hypothesized to contribute to this development. We used fMRI to explore how pubertal indicators (salivary concentrations of testosterone, oestradiol and DHEA; pubertal stage; menarcheal status) relate to brain activity during a social emotion task. Forty-two females aged 11.1 to 13.7 years underwent fMRI scanning while reading scenarios pertaining either to social emotions, which require the representation of another person's mental states, or to basic emotions, which do not. Pubertal stage and menarcheal status were used to assign girls to early or late puberty groups. Across the entire sample, the contrast between social versus basic emotion resulted in activity within the social brain network, including dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC), the posterior superior temporal sulcus, and the anterior temporal cortex (ATC) in both hemispheres. Increased hormone levels (independent of age) were associated with higher left ATC activity during social emotion processing. More advanced age (independent of hormone levels) was associated with lower DMPFC activity during social emotion processing. Our results suggest functionally dissociable effects of pubertal hormones and age on the adolescent social brain.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2012.01174.x

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Authors
Goddings, A., Burnett Heyes, S., Bird, G., Viner, R. M., & Blakemore, S.
Affiliations
University College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Blakemore, Sarah‐Jayne
Venue
Developmental Science
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-09-12
Volume
15
Issue
6
Pages
801-811
ISSN
  • 1363-755X (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-7687
OpenAlex
W2134132389
Cited by
169
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 1
FWCI
6.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Developmental Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • BIROn (Birkbeck, University of London) (acceptedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Royal Society
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Keywords
puberty, pubertal hormones, testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone, menarche, adolescent brain development, social brain network, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, posterior superior temporal sulcus, anterior temporal cortex, theory of mind, basic emotions, girls
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Brain Mapping, Child, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Emotions, Estradiol, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Puberty, Regression Analysis, Saliva, Testosterone, Adolescent Development

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