Influence of sex steroid hormones on the adolescent brain and behavior: An update

Abstract

This review explains the main effects exerted by sex steroids and other hormones on the adolescent brain. During the transition from puberty to adolescence, these hormones participate in the organizational phenomena that structurally shape some brain circuits. In adulthood, this will propitiate some specific behavior as responses to the hormones now activating those neural circuits. Adolescence is, then, a critical “organizational window” for the brain to develop adequately, since steroid hormones perform important functions at this stage. For this reason, the adolescent years are very important for future behaviors in human beings. Changes that occur or fail to occur during adolescence will determine behaviors for the rest of one's lifetime. Consequently, understanding the link between adolescent behavior and brain development as influenced by sex steroids and other hormones and compounds is very important in order to interpret various psycho-affective pathologies.

Lay Summary: The effect of steroid hormones on the development of the adolescent brain, and therefore, on adolescent behavior, is noticeable. This review presents their main activational and organizational effects. During the transition from puberty to adolescence, organizational phenomena triggered by steroids structurally affect the remodeling of brain circuits. Later in adulthood, these changes will be reflected in behavioral responses to such hormones. Adolescence can then be seen as a fundamental “organizational window” during which sex steroids and other hormones and compounds play relevant roles. The understanding of the relationship between adolescent behavior and the way hormones influence brain development help understand some psychological disorders.

Keywords:

• Activational effects
• Adolescence
• Adolescent behavior
• Brain development
• Contraceptive steroids
• Hormones
• Sex steroids
• Organizational effects
• Puberty

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the librarians of SIBUC (Pontifical Catholic University of Chile Library Service) for their support, as well as CFR-Abbott-Chile librarians, who kindly granted access to some of the references cited in this manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pilar Vigil

Dr. Pilar Vigil is associate professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, and medical director of the Reproductive Health Research Institute (RHRI), Santiago, Chile. In addition, Dr. Vigil is a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City, and president of Teen STAR International.

Juan Pablo del Río

Juan Pablo del Río is currently pursuing a degree in medicine and surgery and studying philosophy at the Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.

Ba´rbara Carrera

Dr. Manuel E. Cortés is professor of human physiology, researcher and head of the Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Bernardo O Higgins, and a postdoctoral researcher at the RHRI, Santiago, Chile.

Florencia C. Ara´nguiz

Mrs. Bárbara Carrera is a biologist and RHRI research coordinator.

Hernán Rioseco

Dr. Hernán Rioseco is a physician and researcher at RHRI.

Manuel E. Cortés

Mrs. Florencia C. Aránguiz is a biologist and researcher at RHRI.