Cognitive Development In Adolescence (4) Flashcards
Adolescence
The developmental stage which begins with the onset of puberty and ends when individuals reach adulthood
(Events at) adolescence
- distinct increase in plasticity
- the emergence of psychopathology peaks at this stage
1st stage of puberty for girls
Breast development
1st stage of puberty for boys
Testicular enlargement
Puberty
A series of distinct but interlinked hormonal cascades
- development of the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis, the adrenal system and growth
Peak height velocity
- 11 in girls
- 13 in boys
Menarche
(First sights of menstruation) 12-13 years
Puberty now starts earlier - why?
- nutrition
- lifestyle
- availability of resources
- early industrialised countries - menarche has reduced by 4 years in the past 150 years
Thelarche - 50% of girls show at…
Breastbudding at 10 years
Neural maturation
Hippocampus & amygdala reach mature state earlier than cortical regions
Non-linear change in adolescence
Suboptimal choices in behaviour (risk taking)
Amygdala
Children show greater amygdala activation for neutral faces than fearful faces
Major depressive disorder
25% of adolescents meet this criteria (affected by early life experiences such as substance abuse, bipolar disorder, high risk sexual behaviours and suicide)
3 things that develop during puberty
Hypothalamic-pituitary gonodal axis (gonadarche)
Adrenal system (adrenarche)
Growth
Adrenarche
Adrenal stress hormones between 6-9 years - similar in both sexes
