The Social Brain in Adolescence
Learning Objectives:
● Understanding change in adolescence
○ Concept of adolescence
○ Changes in the adolescent brain
○ Changes in social cognition
○ Increased social sensitivity
(1) Adolescence
Phase distinct from childhood and adulthood – Universal
● Onset and end → culturally specific
○ Onset: puberty
○ End: achieving full adult roles
1.1 Mortality in Adolescents
, 1.1.1 Mental Health in Western Adolescents
● Mental disorders tend to begin in youth
● Episodes of mild DSM-IV mental disorder are common
● 20% of the adolescents experienced at least one severe disorder; 10% had poor mental health
● Prevalence of severe mental disorder in adolescents is higher than even the most prevalent
major somatic conditions
1.2 Puberty
Onset: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
● Increases luteinising hormone and follicle
stimulating hormone
● These hormones trigger the rise of
testosterone in boys and estradiol and
progesterone in girls
1.3 End of Adolescence
Age that man has his first marriage:
Age that mother has her first child:
Longer duration of adolescence = longer period of risk →
, 1.4 Dual Process Models
Mismatch between increased sensitivity to emotional stimuli in limbic areas and delayed
maturation of cognitive control
2 Systems of Thinking:
1. System 1: unconscious, quick, makes use of shortcuts, is a bit sloppy but is relied upon most
of the time
2. System 2: intentional, calculated and often more accurate, but it takes effort and is slow
(2) Changes in the Adolescent Brain
2.1 Puberty and the Brain
Brain Structure Brain Function Model Hormone(s) Effect
Hypothalamus Hormone secretion; Animal ↑ testosterone, ↑ new cell growth
regulation of (rat) progesterone and
temperature, appetite, estradiol
emotions and sexual
behaviour
Pituitary Hormone secretion; Human ↑ testosterone and ↑ grey matter
regulation of hormone (healthy estradiol volume
production in other adolescent)
endocrine glands
Amygdala Emotion processing; Animal ↑ testosterone ↑ new cell growth
fear, aggression, sexual (rat/
behaviours, and reward hamster)
learning
Human ↑ testosterone and ↑ grey matter
(healthy DHEA volume
adolescent)
Human ↓ testosterone ↓ grey matter
(Klinefelter volume
syndrome)
Hippocampus Learning and memory Animal ↑ oestrogen ↑ synaptic density
(rat)
Myelin Insulates axons; Animal ↑ sex steroids ↑ myelination
increases speed and (rat)
efficiency of signal
transmission in neurons Human ↑ testosterone
(healthy and estradiol
adolescent)
Learning Objectives:
● Understanding change in adolescence
○ Concept of adolescence
○ Changes in the adolescent brain
○ Changes in social cognition
○ Increased social sensitivity
(1) Adolescence
Phase distinct from childhood and adulthood – Universal
● Onset and end → culturally specific
○ Onset: puberty
○ End: achieving full adult roles
1.1 Mortality in Adolescents
, 1.1.1 Mental Health in Western Adolescents
● Mental disorders tend to begin in youth
● Episodes of mild DSM-IV mental disorder are common
● 20% of the adolescents experienced at least one severe disorder; 10% had poor mental health
● Prevalence of severe mental disorder in adolescents is higher than even the most prevalent
major somatic conditions
1.2 Puberty
Onset: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
● Increases luteinising hormone and follicle
stimulating hormone
● These hormones trigger the rise of
testosterone in boys and estradiol and
progesterone in girls
1.3 End of Adolescence
Age that man has his first marriage:
Age that mother has her first child:
Longer duration of adolescence = longer period of risk →
, 1.4 Dual Process Models
Mismatch between increased sensitivity to emotional stimuli in limbic areas and delayed
maturation of cognitive control
2 Systems of Thinking:
1. System 1: unconscious, quick, makes use of shortcuts, is a bit sloppy but is relied upon most
of the time
2. System 2: intentional, calculated and often more accurate, but it takes effort and is slow
(2) Changes in the Adolescent Brain
2.1 Puberty and the Brain
Brain Structure Brain Function Model Hormone(s) Effect
Hypothalamus Hormone secretion; Animal ↑ testosterone, ↑ new cell growth
regulation of (rat) progesterone and
temperature, appetite, estradiol
emotions and sexual
behaviour
Pituitary Hormone secretion; Human ↑ testosterone and ↑ grey matter
regulation of hormone (healthy estradiol volume
production in other adolescent)
endocrine glands
Amygdala Emotion processing; Animal ↑ testosterone ↑ new cell growth
fear, aggression, sexual (rat/
behaviours, and reward hamster)
learning
Human ↑ testosterone and ↑ grey matter
(healthy DHEA volume
adolescent)
Human ↓ testosterone ↓ grey matter
(Klinefelter volume
syndrome)
Hippocampus Learning and memory Animal ↑ oestrogen ↑ synaptic density
(rat)
Myelin Insulates axons; Animal ↑ sex steroids ↑ myelination
increases speed and (rat)
efficiency of signal
transmission in neurons Human ↑ testosterone
(healthy and estradiol
adolescent)
