Journal
DEVELOPMENTAL COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 11, Issue -, Pages 116-128Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2014.10.002
Keywords
Adolescence; Brain development; Puberty; Structural magnetic resonance imaging; White matter; Diffusion tensor imaging; Testosterone
Categories
Funding
- NIHR (LM: Academic Clinical Fellowship)
- MRC (AG: Clinical Training Research Fellowship) [G1100402]
- Royal Society (SJB: University Research Fellowship)
- MRC [G1100402] Funding Source: UKRI
- Medical Research Council [G1100402] Funding Source: researchfish
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Neuroimaging studies demonstrate considerable changes in white matter volume and microstructure during adolescence. Most studies have focused on age-related effects, whilst puberty-related changes are not well understood. Using diffusion tensor imaging and tract based spatial statistics, we investigated the effects of pubertal status on white matter mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in 61 males aged 12.7-16.0 years. Participants were grouped into early-mid puberty (<= Tanner Stage 3 in pubic hair and gonadal development; n = 22) and late-post puberty (>= Tanner Stage 4 in pubic hair or gonadal development; n = 39). Salivary levels of pubertal hormones (testosterone, DHEA and oestradiol) were also measured. Pubertal stage was significantly related to MD in diverse white matter regions. No relationship was observed between pubertal status and FA. Regression modelling of MD in the significant regions demonstrated that an interaction model incorporating puberty, age and puberty x age best explained our findings. In addition, testosterone was correlated with MD in these pubertally significant regions. No relationship was observed between oestradiol or DHEA and MD. In conclusion, pubertal status was significantly related to MD, but not FA, and this relationship cannot be explained by changes in chronological age alone. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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