CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 2,276Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Is Adolescence a Sensitive Period for Sociocultural Processing?

Open access
Blakemore, Sarah-Jayne, Mills, Kathryn L.·2014·Annual Review of Psychology
DOI 10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115202
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Adolescence is a period of formative biological and social transition. Social cognitive processes involved in navigating increasingly complex and intimate relationships continue to develop throughout adolescence. Here, we describe the functional and structural changes occurring in the brain during this period of life and how they relate to navigating the social environment. Areas of the social brain undergo both structural changes and functional reorganization during the second decade of life, possibly reflecting a sensitive period for adapting to one's social environment. The changes in social environment that occur during adolescence might interact with increasing executive functions and heightened social sensitivity to influence a number of adolescent behaviors. We discuss the importance of considering the social environment and social rewards in research on adolescent cognition and behavior. Finally, we speculate about the potential implications of this research for society.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115202

Cites

134 of 134 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

39 of 126 cited sources checked · 31 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    Mild stress exposure during the pubertal transition in rats increases risk-taking and novelty-seeking behavior in later adolescence.

    “Mild stress exposure during the pubertal transition in rats (postnatal days 28-42) increases risk-taking and noveltyseeking behavior and decreases anxious behavior in later adolescence (postnatal days 45-51), suggesting that stress experienced during puberty motivates the rats to hasten independencebuilding behaviors (Toledo-Rodriguez & Sandi 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Toledo-Rodriguez & Sandi 2011 source
  • Premisecitation

    Introspective awareness of one's performance on a perceptual task improves across adolescence, following a trajectory similar to mentalizing.

    “Introspective awareness of one's performance on a perceptual task also improves across adolescence, following a trajectory similar to mentalizing (Weil et al. 2013).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Weil et al. 2013 source
  • Premisecitation

    Socioenvironmental conditions experienced during human adolescence can impact attitudes toward health and reproduction in young adulthood.

    “Although much evidence for adolescence as a sensitive period for social processing comes from rodent studies, there is evidence that socioenvironmental conditions experienced during human adolescence can impact attitudes toward health and reproduction in young adulthood (Brumbach et al. 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Brumbach et al. 2009 source

      The Results (Structural Model) link harsh and unpredictable adolescent environments to life-history strategy in young adulthood. But the young-adult measures described in Results (Measurement Model) are health, sexual behavior, and contraception use—not attitudes toward health or reproduction specifically. (LLM, conf=0.83)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    There exists a network of brain regions consistently involved in social cognitive processes.

    “Although this idea remains contentious, there exists a network of brain regions consistently involved in social cognitive processes (Adolphs 2009, Frith 2007).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim2 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Adolphs 2009 source
    • cites Frith 2007 source
  • Premisecitation

    Mild stress exposure during the pubertal transition in rats decreases anxious behavior in later adolescence.

    “Mild stress exposure during the pubertal transition in rats (postnatal days 28-42) increases risk-taking and noveltyseeking behavior and decreases anxious behavior in later adolescence (postnatal days 45-51), suggesting that stress experienced during puberty motivates the rats to hasten independencebuilding behaviors (Toledo-Rodriguez & Sandi 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Toledo-Rodriguez & Sandi 2011 source
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 19
  • May combine two claims. 37
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1

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

    Premisecitation

    The TPJ is activated specifically in situations when one is inferring the mental states of others rather than just information known about another.

    “It is suggested that the TPJ is activated specifically in situations when one is inferring the mental states of others rather than just information known about another (Saxe & Kanwisher 2003, Saxe et al. 2009).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Saxe & Kanwisher 2003 source
    • cites Saxe et al. 2009 source

      The paper says the right TPJ in adults responds selectively to thinking about mental states rather than other facts about people. But the Discussion reports that this selectivity emerges between ages 6 and 11; in younger children, the response extends to other social information. The claim omits that developmental qualification and refers to the TPJ generally. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The dmPFC is activated when inferring the mental states of others, when reflecting on knowledge of another's traits, and when reflecting on the traits of oneself.

    “In contrast, dmPFC is activated in multiple conditions: when inferring the mental states of others, when reflecting on knowledge of another's traits, and when reflecting on the traits of oneself (Frith 2007).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Frith 2007 source

      Section 6(b) says that mentalizing, judging another person’s dispositions, and judging one’s own dispositions all elicit MPFC activity. But the paper attributes this three-task pattern to MPFC, not specifically to dorsal MPFC (dmPFC); section 6(c) describes the associated activity as anterior rostral MPFC. (LLM, conf=0.82)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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

    Interpretationcitation

    Reductions in gray matter volume might reflect synaptic reorganization and/or increases in white matter integrity.

    “Despite these limitations, it is thought that reductions in gray matter volume might reflect synaptic reorganization and/or increases in white matter integrity (Paus et al. 2008).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Paus et al. 2008 source

      The “Adolescence = pruning + myelination?” section suggests that reduced synapses could indirectly reduce cortical grey-matter volume and that increased myelination of intra-cortical axons could produce an apparent loss of grey matter. It does not specifically attribute the reduction to increased white-matter integrity, and it cautions that MRI findings cannot be assigned to a single biological process. (LLM, conf=0.84)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescents within socially unpredictable environments experienced decreased physical and mental health in the short term and adopted faster life history strategies in young adulthood.

    “Adolescents within socially unpredictable environments not only experienced decreased physical and mental health in the short term but also adopted faster life history strategies in young adulthood, such as decreased health, less sexual restrictedness, and less resource-accruing potential (Brumbach et al. 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Brumbach et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The ATC is involved in applying social knowledge and processing social scripts.

    “A combination of lesion, nonhuman primate, and fMRI studies has prompted researchers to theorize the involvement of the ATC in applying social knowledge (Olson et al. 2013) and processing social scripts (Frith 2007, Frith & Frith 2003).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim2 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Olson et al. 2013 source
    • cites Frith 2007 source
    • cites Frith & Frith 2003 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In the same study, recruitment of dmPFC and ATC appeared related to self-reported trait empathy, but only anterior insula showed a positive correlation with prosocial behavior.

    “Although recruitment of the dmPFC and ATC appeared to be related to self-reported trait empathy, only the anterior insula showed a positive correlation with prosocial behavior.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Masten et al. 2010 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Successful emotion regulation in early adolescence (10 to 13 years) is impacted by the adolescent's sensitivity to rejection as well as situational factors of the emotional stimuli.

    “Successful emotion regulation in early adolescence (10 to 13 years) is impacted by the adolescent's sensitivity to rejection as well as situational factors of the emotional stimuli.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Silvers et al. 2012 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Perceived threats and crime expectations in the environment, but not actual experience with violence, correlated with mortality judgments.

    “Perceived threats and crime expectations in the environment, but not actual experience with violence, correlated with mortality judgments (Fischhoff et al. 2010).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fischhoff et al. 2010 source

      The Results section reports that perceived threat and crime expectations correlated with mortality judgments in the UCSF study, while reports of violent events did not correlate significantly. But it also reports that all four threat measures correlated significantly with mortality judgments in NLSY97, so the claim's unqualified statement about actual experience with violence does not hold across both studies. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Developmental fMRI studies suggest that distinct neural systems develop at different rates across childhood and adolescence and that these age-related changes in regions involved in feedback processing may underlie behavioral differences in flexible performance adjustment.

    “Developmental fMRI studies suggest that distinct neural systems develop at different rates across childhood and adolescence and that these age-related changes in regions involved in feedback processing may underlie behavioral differences in flexible performance adjustment (Crone et al. 2008).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Crone et al. 2008 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Relative to adults, adolescents showed greater risk-averse behavior after receiving expert advice, and this effect is modulated by increased engagement of dorsolateral PFC by adolescents during valuation in the presence of advice.

    “Relative to adults, adolescents showed greater risk-adverse behavior after receiving expert advice, and this effect is modulated by increased engagement of the dorsolateral PFC by adolescents during valuation in the presence of advice (Engelmann et al. 2012).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Engelmann et al. 2012 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    A recent report suggested that adolescents perceive their risk of dying soon as higher than it actually is.

    “A recent report suggested that adolescents perceive their risk of dying soon as higher than it actually is (Fischhoff et al. 2010).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fischhoff et al. 2010 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Gray matter volume and cortical thickness in medial Brodmann area 10, TPJ, and pSTS decreased from childhood into the early twenties, whereas the ATC increased in gray matter volume until adolescence and in cortical thickness until early adulthood.

    “Gray matter volume and cortical thickness in medial Brodmann area 10 (a proxy for dmPFC), TPJ, and pSTS decreased from childhood into the early twenties, whereas the ATC increased in gray matter volume until adolescence and in cortical thickness until early adulthood.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Mills et al. 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

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

    Interpretationreasoning

    The changes in social environment that occur during adolescence might interact with increasing executive functions and heightened social sensitivity to influence a number of adolescent behaviors.

    “The changes in social environment that occur during adolescence might interact with increasing executive functions and heightened social sensitivity to influence a number of adolescent behaviors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Structural MRI studies have consistently shown continuing neuroanatomical development in gray matter and white matter, with association cortices reducing in gray matter volume across adolescence and white matter increasing into adulthood.

    “Structural MRI studies have consistently shown continuing neuroanatomical development in gray matter and white matter (Brain Dev.Coop.Group 2012, Giedd et al. 1999, Sowell et al. 2003, Tamnes et al. 2013), with association cortices reducing in gray matter volume across adolescence and white matter increasing into adulthood.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Brain Dev.Coop.Group 2012

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Giedd et al. 1999 source
    • cites Sowell et al. 2003 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Electrophysiological and fMRI studies consistently report the involvement of the pSTS in the perception of biological motion and eye gaze and in grasping the intentionality and appropriateness of biological motion.

    “Electrophysiological and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies consistently report the involvement of the pSTS in the perception of biological motion and eye gaze (Puce & Perrett 2003) and in grasping the intentionality and appropriateness of biological motion (Pelphrey et al. 2004).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Puce & Perrett 2003 source
    • cites Pelphrey et al. 2004 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Male rats exposed to chronic social instability stress during adolescence were, in adulthood, more anxious and less socially interactive than rats not exposed to social stressors during adolescence.

    “For example, male rats exposed to chronic social instability stress during adolescence were, in adulthood, more anxious and less socially interactive (Green et al. 2012)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Green et al. 2012

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Accuracy in the director condition continued to improve after mid-adolescence, while accuracy improved until mid-adolescence in both conditions.

    “Although accuracy improved until mid-adolescence in both conditions, accuracy in the director condition continued to improve after mid-adolescence.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Dumontheil et al. 2010a

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Premisecitation

    Young and mid-adolescents (11-16 years) reported lowered overall mood after being excluded by other players in Cyberball, compared with adults.

    “young and mid-adolescents (11-16 years) reported lowered overall mood”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sebastian et al. 2010 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The desire to be accepted by one's peers, and avoidance of social rejection, is particularly acute in adolescence and might drive adolescent behavior.

    “Thus, it appears that the desire to be accepted by one's peers, and avoidance of social rejection, is particularly acute in adolescence and might drive adolescent behavior (Figure 1).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Premisenone given

    Mentalizing has been associated with a network of brain regions including the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, posterior superior temporal sulcus, and anterior temporal cortex.

    “Mentalizing (theory of mind), the process of mental state attribution, has been associated with a network of brain regions including the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), temporoparietal junction (TPJ), posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), and anterior temporal cortex (ATC) (Figure 3).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Exposure to social isolation during adolescence increases the likelihood of depressive-like behaviors as well as alterations in the structure of the prefrontal cortex.

    “Exposure to social isolation during adolescence increases the likelihood of depressive-like behaviors as well as alterations in the structure of the prefrontal cortex (Leussis & Andersen 2008).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Leussis & Andersen 2008 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The consequences of social exclusion can be so great that mechanisms and behaviors promoting peer acceptance are considered adaptive.

    “If so, the consequences of social exclusion can be so great that mechanisms and behaviors promoting peer acceptance are considered adaptive.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Findings from rodent models of adolescent social stress generalize to human adolescent health and life trajectories.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In adolescents, mPFC recruitment during exclusion relative to inclusion was associated with greater self-reported susceptibility to peer influence, but not in adults.

    “In one study, recruitment of the mPFC during exclusion relative to inclusion was associated with greater selfreported susceptibility to peer influence in adolescents but not in adults (Sebastian et al. 2011).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sebastian et al. 2011 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Older adolescents and emerging adults were more likely to reciprocate when the first player stood to lose more money, whereas younger adolescents did not differentiate.

    “Older adolescents and emerging adults were more likely to reciprocate when the first player stood to lose more money, whereas the younger adolescents did not differentiate, supporting the idea that the ability to understand the intentions of others increases into adulthood.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites van den Bos et al. 2011 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Together, these studies suggest the vlPFC plays a role in regulating distress following social exclusion and that this region is still developing functionally between adolescence and adulthood.

    “Together, these studies suggest the vlPFC plays a role in regulating distress following social exclusion and that this region is still developing functionally between adolescence and adulthood.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Both adults and adolescents recruited the dmPFC when social cues were needed to accurately perform the task, but adolescents also recruited the dmPFC when social cues were not needed.

    “Although both adults and adolescents recruited the dmPFC when the social cues were needed to accurately perform the task, adolescents also recruited the dmPFC when social cues were not needed.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Dumontheil et al. 2012 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    All participants showed greater recruitment in the dmPFC when making self-oriented choices, but only young adolescents engaged this region when making reciprocal choices.

    “showed greater recruitment in the dmPFC when making self-oriented choices (defecting), but only young adolescents engaged this region when making reciprocal choices.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites van den Bos et al. 2011 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Recruitment of the prefrontal cortex during face-processing tasks increases between childhood and adolescence and then decreases between adolescence and adulthood.

    “Recruitment of the prefrontal cortex during face-processing tasks increases between childhood and adolescence and then decreases between adolescence and adulthood (reviewed in Blakemore 2008).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Blakemore 2008 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Understanding the mental states of others by processing facial expressions is a crucial skill and continues to develop across adolescence.

    “Understanding the mental states of others by processing facial expressions is a crucial skill and is one that continues to develop across adolescence (McGivern et al. 2002).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites McGivern et al. 2002 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Heightened activation in the dmPFC for reciprocal choices decreased between early and late adolescence and remained stable into early adulthood.

    “This heightened activation in the dmPFC for reciprocal choices decreased between early and late adolescence and remained stable into early adulthood, possibly reflecting a shift away from engaging in social interactions from an egocentric perspective (van den Bos et al. 2011).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites van den Bos et al. 2011 source

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

    Interpretationcitation

    Changes in functional recruitment have been hypothesized to reflect changes in neurocognitive strategy and/or neuroanatomy.

    “These changes in functional recruitment have been hypothesized to reflect changes in neurocognitive strategy and/or neuroanatomy (Blakemore 2008).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Blakemore 2008 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Recruitment of the left TPJ when participants were shown that the first player trusted them increased with age, and this level of activation correlated with participants' sensitivity to the first player's intentions.

    “The recruitment of the left TPJ when participants were shown that the first player trusted them increased with age, and this level of activation correlated with participants' sensitivity to the first player's intentions.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites van den Bos et al. 2011 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In the same study, peers had no impact on risk taking in adults and had an intermediate effect on risk taking in youths.

    “In contrast, peers had no impact on risk taking in adults and had an intermediate effect on risk taking in youths (Gardner & Steinberg 2005) (see Figure 4).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gardner & Steinberg 2005 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescents aged 13 to 16 years, young adults aged 18 to 22 years, and adults aged 24+ years took around the same number of driving risks when alone, whereas adolescents took significantly more in the presence of their friends.

    “Adolescents (13 to 16 years), young adults (18 to 22 years), and adults (24+ years) took around the same number of driving risks when alone, whereas the adolescents took significantly more in the presence of their friends (Gardner & Steinberg 2005).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gardner & Steinberg 2005 source

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

    Interpretationnone given

    Adults can have a large impact on the social cognitive development and life course trajectories of adolescents by creating and maintaining the structures of social environments.

    “Adults can have a large impact on the social cognitive development and life course trajectories of adolescents by creating and maintaining the structures of social environments.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Children and adolescents show adult levels of probability estimation and reward evaluation during a gambling task, suggesting that heightened risky decision making in adolescents is probably not related to a change in risk perception.

    “Children and adolescents show adult levels of probability estimation and reward evaluation during one such gambling task, suggesting that heightened risky decision making in adolescents is probably not related to a change in risk perception (Van Leijenhorst et al. 2008).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Van Leijenhorst et al. 2008 source

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

    Premisecitation

    Twenty years ago, Terrie Moffitt presented evidence supporting the idea that the majority of adolescents who engage in criminal behavior will do so during adolescence and at no other period of their life.

    “Twenty years ago, Terrie Moffitt presented evidence supporting the idea that the majority of adolescents who engage in criminal behavior will do so during adolescence and at no other period of their life (Moffitt 1993).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Moffitt 1993 source

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

    Premisecitation

    Participants pointed out the potential for neuroscience research to perpetuate stereotypes or combat stereotypes, depending on how adults incorporate research in their understanding of adolescence.

    “They pointed out the potential for neuroscience research to perpetuate stereotypes or combat stereotypes, depending on how adults incorporate research in their understanding of adolescence (Choudhury et al. 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Choudhury et al. 2012 source

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

    Interpretationnone given

    The adolescent brain is malleable and adaptable, providing an excellent opportunity for learning and creativity.

    “And yet the adolescent brain is malleable and adaptable-this is an excellent opportunity for learning and creativity.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Developmental improvements in executive functions likely influence and are influenced by social cognitive processing during adolescence.

    “Developmental improvements in executive functions likely influence-and are influenced by-social cognitive processing during adolescence.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescents rate the potential reward to be gained as very high, which may make the perceived benefits outweigh the perceived risk.

    “Adolescents also rate the potential reward to be gained as very high, which may make the perceived benefits outweigh the perceived risk (Reyna & Farley 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Reyna & Farley 2006 source

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

    Premisecitation

    Participating adolescents in Choudhury et al. 2012 felt that although research on the adolescent brain is necessary and important, the model of the adolescent brain as an explanation for adolescent behavior is insufficient.

    “The participating adolescents in this study felt that although research on the adolescent brain is necessary and important, the model of the adolescent brain as an explanation for adolescent behavior is insufficient (Choudhury et al. 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Choudhury et al. 2012 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The sensitive period for cultural learning is not adolescent specific but instead cultural sensitivity may begin to close during adolescence.

    “Acculturation, or adaptation to the mainstream culture of where one has immigrated, occurs more rapidly at younger ages (1 to 15 years) (Cheung et al. 2011), suggesting that the sensitive period for cultural learning is not adolescent specific but instead that cultural sensitivity may begin to close during adolescence.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cheung et al. 2011 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Cognitive abilities such as processing speed, voluntary response suppression, delay discounting, future planning, and working memory all mature into adolescence.

    “Cognitive abilities such as processing speed, voluntary response suppression, delay discounting, future planning, and working memory all mature into adolescence (Luna et al. 2004, Steinberg et al. 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Luna et al. 2004 source
    • cites Steinberg et al. 2009 source

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

    Interpretationnone given

    Research on brain development suggests that adolescence might represent a period of relatively high neural plasticity, in particular in brain regions involved in executive function and social cognition.

    “Research on brain development suggests that adolescence might represent a period of relatively high neural plasticity, in particular in brain regions involved in executive function and social cognition.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Interpretationnone given

    Adolescence represents a period of brain development during which environmental experiences including teaching can and do profoundly shape the developing brain.

    “Adolescence represents a period of brain development during which environmental experiencesincluding teaching-can and do profoundly shape the developing brain.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Premisecitation

    Participants were less interested in how neuroscience could influence how they understand themselves and more interested in how research on the adolescent brain could influence the perspectives of adults.

    “Interestingly, participants were less interested in how neuroscience could influence how they understand themselves and more interested in how research on the adolescent brain could influence the perspectives of adults (Choudhury et al. 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Choudhury et al. 2012 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Adolescence might represent a period of enhanced sensitivity to social signals in the environment, and these signals might influence an adolescent's life course trajectory by motivating certain behaviors.

    “Adolescence might represent a period of enhanced sensitivity to social signals in the environment, and these signals might influence an adolescent's life course trajectory by motivating certain behaviors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Adolescents are sensitive to the signals within their social environment, and these signals can impact how likely they are to invest in the future.

    “Adolescents are sensitive to the signals within their social environment, and these signals can impact how likely they are to invest in the future.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Interpretationnone given

    Areas of the brain involved in understanding the mental states of others continue to develop structurally and functionally across adolescence.

    “Areas of the brain involved in understanding the mental states of others continue to develop structurally and functionally across adolescence.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Evidence from multiple fields supports the need for special consideration in prosecuting and punishing adolescents.

    “Although the discussion on culpability and the brain is ongoing, evidence from multiple fields supports the need for special consideration in prosecuting and punishing adolescents.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Both young adolescents aged 12 to 14 years and older adolescents aged 16 to 18 years showed heart rate slowing after erring on a task-switching task, which might indicate an increasing ability to monitor performance.

    “Both young adolescents (12 to 14 years) and older adolescents (16 to 18 years) showed heart rate slowing after erring on a task-switching task, which might indicate an increasing ability to monitor performance (Crone et al. 2006a).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Crone et al. 2006a

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationcitation

    Improvement in considering future consequences might impact how adolescents interact in social situations.

    “The ability to consider future consequences of actions continues to improve across adolescence (Crone & van der Molen 2004), which might impact how adolescents interact in social situations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
53 of 53

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from rodent models of adolescent social stress generalize to human adolescent health and life trajectories.

    “Although the study involved rodents, the impact of social isolation on adolescent health and life trajectories likely applies to humans.”
1 of 1

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?

  • Adolescence is a sensitive period for social interaction.

    “Adolescence represents a sensitive period for social interaction.4”

    From The effects of social deprivation on adolescent development and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [4]

    The Conclusion says adolescence might be a sensitive period for processing and acquiring sociocultural knowledge. The claim presents this as established and broadens it to social interaction generally; the section on Possible Consequences of Social Isolation also says further human studies are needed. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • During adolescence, the acceptation by peers becomes an important purpose in everyday life and guides decision-making.

    “During adolescence, the acceptation by peers becomes an important purpose in everyday life and guides decision-making [55].”

    From Medical decision-making in children and adolescents: developmental and neuroscientific aspects (2017) · cites this paper as [55]

    The Risky Decision Making section (page not available in our copy) says peer acceptance is especially important in adolescence and proposes that it may drive risky choices. The claim extends that proposed influence to everyday decision-making generally and states it more definitively than the source does. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The sensitivity to rewards together with increased value of social cues creates a perfect situation for learning new skills that are important to function in a social context.

    “The sensitivity to rewards together with increased value of social cues creates a perfect situation for learning new skills that are important to function in a social context [53, 55].”

    From Medical decision-making in children and adolescents: developmental and neuroscientific aspects (2017) · cites this paper as [55]

    The Risky Decision Making section describes heightened reward-related responses and the influence of social cues on adolescent behavior. Social Cognitive Development discusses the rewarding nature of peer relationships, and Educational Implications calls adolescence an opportunity to learn new skills. The paper does not establish that reward sensitivity and the increased value of social cues together create the claimed opportunity for learning social skills; it presents the learning opportunity more cautiously. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Past research has demonstrated that each life stage exhibits its own unique trajectories, goals, and influences, and activities can therefore differ from being of no impact, to being adaptive or maladaptive depending on which developmental period one examines.

    “Past research has demonstrated that each life stage exhibits its own unique trajectories, goals, and influences19,45–47, and activities can therefore differ from being of no impact, to being adaptive or maladaptive depending on which developmental period one examines46,48.”

    From Windows of developmental sensitivity to social media (2022) · cites this paper as [19]

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The heightened susceptibility to social influence in adolescence, combined with increased concern about social rejection, increases the likelihood that adolescents will conform to peers to gain social acceptance and avoid exclusion.

    “The heightened susceptibility to social influence in adolescence, combined with increased concern about social rejection, increases the likelihood that adolescents will conform to their peers in order to gain social acceptance and avoid the social risk of being excluded by their peer group. 141-143”

    From The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health (2024) · cites this paper as [141]

    The Peer evaluation section reports that peer influence on conformity peaks in early adolescence, and the Figure 1 discussion says desire for peer acceptance and avoidance of rejection are particularly acute then. But the paper says these concerns *might* drive adolescent behavior; it does not establish that they increase conformity specifically to gain acceptance or avoid exclusion. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Ross WD, 1925, Ethica Nicomachea.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Blakemore, S.-J., & Mills, K. L.
Affiliations
  • University College London (GB)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (US)
ORCID
Venue
Annual Review of Psychology
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
2014-01-03
Volume
65
Issue
1
Pages
187-207
ISSN
  • 0066-4308 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-2085
DOI
10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115202
OpenAlex
W2103167256
Cited by
2,264
References
131
Citations by year
2026: 292 · 2025: 290 · 2024: 243 · 2023: 318 · 2022: 202 · 2021: 220 · 2020: 173 · 2019: 120 · 2018: 140 · 2017: 96 · 2016: 90 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
FWCI
4.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annual Review of Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Leverhulme Trust
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 › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
adolescence, sensitive period, social cognition, social brain, brain development, social environment, social reward, executive function, social sensitivity, adolescent behavior, interpersonal relationships
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Brain, Cognition, Humans, Social Behavior, Social Environment, Social Perception, Adolescent Development, Executive Function

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 2026-10-11.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

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.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review