Coming of age in the frontal cortex: The role of puberty in cortical maturation

Genetic changes linked to two different syndromic forms of autism enhance reinforcement learning in adolescent male but not female mice

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by restricted and repetitive behaviors and social differences, both of which may manifest, in part, from underlying differences in corticostriatal circuits and reinforcement learning. Here, we investigated reinforcement learning in mice with mutations in either Tsc2 or Shank3 , both high-confidence ASD risk genes associated with major syndromic forms of ASD. Using an odor-based two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) task, we tested adolescent mice of both sexes and found male Tsc2 and Shank3B heterozygote (Het) mice showed enhanced learning performance compared to their wild type (WT) siblings. No gain of function was observed in females. Using a novel reinforcement learning (RL) based computational model to infer learning rate as well as policy-level task engagement and disengagement, we found that the gain of function in males was driven by an enhanced positive learning rate in both Tsc2 and Shank3B Het mice. The gain of function in Het males was absent when mice were trained with a probabilistic reward schedule. These findings in two ASD mouse models reveal a convergent learning phenotype that shows similar sensitivity to sex and environmental uncertainty. These data can inform our understanding of both strengths and challenges associated with autism, while providing further evidence that sex and experience of uncertainty modulate autism-related phenotypes.

Significance Statement

Reinforcement learning is a foundational form of learning that is widely used in behavioral interventions for autism. Here, we measured reinforcement learning in adolescent mice carrying genetic mutations linked to two different syndromic forms of autism. We found that males showed strengths in reinforcement learning compared to their wild type siblings, while females showed no differences. This gain of function in males was no longer observed when uncertainty was introduced into the reward schedule for correct choices. These findings support a model in which diverse genetic changes interact with sex to generate common phenotypes underlying autism. Our data further support the idea that autism risk genes may produce strengths as well as challenges in behavioral function.

The connecting brain in context: How adolescent plasticity supports learning and development

Puberty initiates significant neurobiological changes that amplify adolescents' responsiveness to their environment, facilitating neural adaptation through processes like synaptic pruning, myelination, and neuronal reorganization. This heightened neuroplasticity, combined with their burgeoning social curiosity and appetite for risk, propels adolescents to explore diverse new environments and forge social bonds. Such exploration can accelerate experiential learning and the formation of social networks as adolescents prepare for adult independence. This review examines the complex interplay between adolescent neuroplasticity, environmental influences, and learning processes, synthesizing findings from recent studies that illustrate how factors such as social interactions, school environments, and neighborhood contexts influence both the transient activation and enduring organization of the developing brain. We advocate for incorporating social interaction into adolescent-tailored interventions, leveraging their social plasticity to optimize learning and development during this critical phase. Going forward, we discuss the importance of longitudinal studies that employ multimodal approaches to characterize the dynamic interactions between development and environment, highlighting recent advancements in quantifying environmental impacts in studies of developmental neuroscience. Ultimately, this paper provides an updated synopsis of adolescent neuroplasticity and the environment, underscoring the potential for environmental enrichment programs to support healthy brain development and resilience at this critical development stage.

Interactive effects of social media use and puberty on resting-state cortical activity and mental health symptoms

Adolescence is a period of profound biopsychosocial development, with pubertally-driven neural reorganization as social demands increase in peer contexts. The explosive increase in social media access has fundamentally changed peer interactions among youth, creating an urgent need to understand its impact on neurobiological development and mental health. Extant literature indicates that using social media promotes social comparison and feedback seeking (SCFS) behaviors in youth, which portend increased risk for mental health disorders, but little is known about its impact on neurobiological development. We assessed social media behaviors, mental health symptoms, and spontaneous cortical activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in 80 typically developing youth (8-16 years) and tested how self-reported pubertal stage moderates their relationship. More mature adolescents who engaged in more SCFS showed weaker fusiform/parahippocampal alpha and medial prefrontal beta activity, and increased symptoms of anxiety and attention problems. Engaging in SCFS on social media during adolescence may thus relate to developmental differences in brain regions that undergo considerable development during puberty. These results are consistent with works indicating altered neurodevelopmental trajectories within association cortices surrounding the onset of many mental health disorders. Importantly, later pubertal stages may be most sensitive to the detrimental effects of social media use.

Medial prefrontal cortex circuitry and social behaviour in autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has proven to be highly enigmatic due to the diversity of its underlying genetic causes and the huge variability in symptom presentation. Uncovering common phenotypes across people with ASD and pre-clinical models allows us to better understand the influence on brain function of the many different genetic and cellular processes thought to contribute to ASD aetiology. One such feature of ASD is the convergent evidence implicating abnormal functioning of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) across studies. The mPFC is a key part of the 'social brain' and may contribute to many of the changes in social behaviour observed in people with ASD. Here we review recent evidence for mPFC involvement in both ASD and social behaviours. We also highlight how pre-clinical mouse models can be used to uncover important cellular and circuit-level mechanisms that may underly atypical social behaviours in ASD. This article is part of the Special Issue on "PFC circuit function in psychiatric disease and relevant models".

Disorders of puberty and neurodevelopment: A shared etiology?

The neuroendocrine control of puberty and reproduction is fascinatingly complex, with up- and down-regulation of key reproductive hormones during fetal, infantile, and later childhood periods that determine the correct function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the timing of puberty. Neuronal development is a vital element of these processes, and multiple conditions of disordered puberty and reproduction have their etiology in abnormal neuronal migration or function. Although there are numerous documented cases across multiple conditions wherein patients have both neurodevelopmental disorders and pubertal abnormalities, this has mostly been described ad hoc and the associations are not clearly documented. In this review, we aim to describe the overlap between these two groups of conditions and to increase awareness to ensure that puberty and reproductive function are carefully monitored in patients with neurodevelopmental conditions, and vice versa. Moreover, this commonality can be explored for clues about the disease mechanisms in these patient groups and provide new avenues for therapeutic interventions for affected individuals.

Beyond Birth Control: The Neuroscience of Hormonal Contraceptives

Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are one of the most highly prescribed classes of drugs in the world used for both contraceptive and noncontraceptive purposes. Despite their prevalent use, the impact of HCs on the brain remains inadequately explored. This review synthesizes recent findings on the neuroscience of HCs, with a focus on human structural neuroimaging as well as translational, nonhuman animal studies investigating the cellular, molecular, and behavioral effects of HCs. Additionally, we consider data linking HCs to mood disorders and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and stress response as a potential mediator. The review also addresses the unique sensitivity of the adolescent brain to HCs, noting significant changes in brain structure and function when HCs are used during this developmental period. Finally, we discuss potential effects of HCs in combination with smoking-derived nicotine on outcomes of ischemic brain damage. Methodological challenges, such as the variability in HC formulations and user-specific factors, are acknowledged, emphasizing the need for precise and individualized research approaches. Overall, this review underscores the necessity for continued interdisciplinary research to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms of HCs, aiming to optimize their use and improve women's health.

Adrenocortical deviations and adverse clinical outcomes in children and adolescents exposed to interparental intimate partner violence: A systematic review

Childhood exposure to interparental intimate partner violence (i-IPV) is a pervasive form of child maltreatment, posing major public health concerns and elevating risks for enduring adverse clinical and developmental consequences. However, assessing the full spectrum of clinical effects is challenging, potentially leading to inconsistent identification of children in need of early intervention. This systematic review aimed to identify hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis dysfunction following i-IPV exposure, elucidating the underlying biopsychobehavioural mechanisms and predicting adverse outcomes. We searched Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO for peer-reviewed studies from infancy through adolescence, screened reference lists and conducted forward searches. Analysis of 23 publications (N = 1848) revealed associations between i-IPV and altered adrenocortical function from early childhood, influenced by FKBP5 haplotype, parental caregiving and offspring emotional insecurity. Results showed that the adrenocortical stress response may predict internalising and externalising problems, childhood asthma, impaired executive function and poor academic performance. Nonetheless, inconsistencies in findings between studies suggest methodological heterogeneity and potential bias. Identifying biomarkers such as cortisol can enhance prediction and mechanism-based intervention efforts but long-term studies with a common theoretical and methodological framework are needed for comprehensive understanding. Integrating biological, emotional, and behavioural assessments could potentiate trauma services and research, ultimately improving outcomes for affected children.

Serotonergic neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity

Synaptic plasticity constitutes a fundamental process in the reorganization of neural networks that underlie memory, cognition, emotional responses, and behavioral planning. At the core of this phenomenon lie Hebbian mechanisms, wherein frequent synaptic stimulation induces long-term potentiation (LTP), while less activation leads to long-term depression (LTD). The synaptic reorganization of neuronal networks is regulated by serotonin (5-HT), a neuromodulator capable of modify synaptic plasticity to appropriately respond to mental and behavioral states, such as alertness, attention, concentration, motivation, and mood. Lately, understanding the serotonergic Neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity has become imperative for unraveling its impact on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions. Through a comparative analysis across three main forebrain structures-the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, this review discusses the actions of 5-HT on synaptic plasticity, offering insights into its role as a neuromodulator involved in emotional and cognitive functions. By distinguishing between plastic and metaplastic effects, we provide a comprehensive overview about the mechanisms of 5-HT neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity and associated functions across different brain regions.

Altered prefrontal and cerebellar parvalbumin neuron counts are associated with cognitive changes in male rats

Exposure to valproic acid (VPA), a common anti-seizure medication, in utero is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). People with ASD often display changes in the cerebellum, including volume changes, altered circuitry, and changes in Purkinje cell populations. ASD is also characterized by changes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), where excitatory/inhibitory balance is often altered. This study exposed rats to a high dose of VPA during gestation and assessed cognition and anxiety-like behaviors during young adulthood using a set-shifting task and the elevated plus maze. Inhibitory parvalbumin-expressing (PV +) neuron counts were assessed in the mPFC and cerebellar lobules VI and VII (Purkinje cell layers), which are known to modulate cognition. VPA males had increased PV + counts in crus I and II of lobule VII. VPA males also had decreased parvalbumin-expressing neuron counts in the mPFC. It was also found that VPA-exposed rats, regardless of sex, had increased parvalbumin-expressing Purkinje cell counts in lobule VI. In males, this was associated with impaired intra-dimensional shifting on a set-shifting task. Purkinje cell over proliferation may be contributing to the previously observed increase in volume of Lobule VI. These findings suggest that altered inhibitory signaling in cerebellar-frontal circuits may contribute to the cognitive deficits that occur within ASD.

Revisiting adolescence as a sensitive period for sociocultural processing

Waves of research and public discourse have characterized adolescence as periods of developmental risk and opportunity. Underlying this discussion is the recognition that adolescence is a period of major biological and social transition when experience may have an outsized effect on development. This article updates and expands upon prior work suggesting that adolescence may be a sensitive period for sociocultural processing specifically. By integrating evidence from developmental psychology and neuroscience, we identify how trajectories of social and neurobiological development may relate to adolescents' ability to adapt to and learn from their social environments. However, we also highlight gaps in the literature, including challenges in attributing developmental change to adolescent experiences. We discuss the importance of better understanding variability in biology (e.g., pubertal development) and cultural environments, as well as distinguishing between sensitive periods and periods of heightened sensitivity. Finally, we look toward future directions and translational implications of this research.

The impact of suppressing puberty on neuropsychological function: A review

AIM

Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of medications that interrupt puberty, given the magnitude and complexity of changes that occur in brain function and structure during this sensitive window of neurodevelopment. This review examines the literature on the impact of pubertal suppression on cognitive and behavioural function in animals and humans.

METHODS

All studies reporting cognitive impacts of treatment with GnRH agonists/antagonists for pubertal suppression in animals or humans were sought via a systematic search strategy across the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies were identified. In mammals, the neuropsychological impacts of puberty blockers are complex and often sex specific (n = 11 studies). There is no evidence that cognitive effects are fully reversible following discontinuation of treatment. No human studies have systematically explored the impact of these treatments on neuropsychological function with an adequate baseline and follow-up. There is some evidence of a detrimental impact of pubertal suppression on IQ in children.

CONCLUSION

Critical questions remain unanswered regarding the nature, extent and permanence of any arrested development of cognitive function associated with puberty blockers. The impact of puberal suppression on measures of neuropsychological function is an urgent research priority.

GABA system as the cause and effect in early development

GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain and through its actions on GABAARs, it protects against excitotoxicity and seizure activity, ensures temporal fidelity of neurotransmission, and regulates concerted rhythmic activity of neuronal populations. In the developing brain, the development of GABAergic neurons precedes that of glutamatergic neurons and the GABA system serves as a guide and framework for the development of other brain systems. Despite this early start, the maturation of the GABA system also continues well into the early postnatal period. In this review, we organize evidence around two scenarios based on the essential and protracted nature of GABA system development: 1) disruptions in the development of the GABA system can lead to large scale disruptions in other developmental processes (i.e., GABA as the cause), 2) protracted maturation of this system makes it vulnerable to the effects of developmental insults (i.e., GABA as the effect). While ample evidence supports the importance of GABA/GABAAR system in both scenarios, large gaps in existing knowledge prevent strong mechanistic conclusions.

Navigating Pubertal Goldilocks: The Optimal Pace for Hierarchical Brain Organization

Adolescence is a timed process with an onset, tempo, and duration. Nevertheless, the temporal dimension, especially the pace of maturation, remains an insufficiently studied aspect of developmental progression. The primary objective is to estimate the precise influence of pubertal maturational tempo on the configuration of associative brain regions. To this end, the connection between maturational stages and the level of hierarchical organization of large-scale brain networks in 12-13-year-old females is analyzed. Skeletal maturity is used as a proxy for pubertal progress. The degree of maturity is defined by the difference between bone age and chronological age. To assess the level of hierarchical organization in the brain, the temporal dynamic of closed eye resting state high-density electroencephalography (EEG) in the alpha frequency range is analyzed. Different levels of hierarchical order are captured by the measured asymmetry in the directionality of information flow between different regions. The calculated EEG-based entropy production of participant groups is then compared with accelerated, average, and decelerated maturity. Results indicate that an average maturational trajectory optimally aligns with cerebral hierarchical order, and both accelerated and decelerated timelines result in diminished cortical organization. This suggests that a "Goldilocks rule" of brain development is favoring a particular maturational tempo.

Developmental trajectory of social reward motivation from early adolescence into adulthood in female and male Long-Evans rats

Most studies of adolescent and adult behavior involved one age group of each, whereas the dynamic changes in brain development suggest that there may be behavioral flux in adolescence. In two studies, we investigated developmental changes in social reward motivation in female and male Long-Evans rats from prepuberty to early adulthood in a social operant conditioning task. Given the earlier onset of puberty in females than in males, we predicted the course of social reward development would differ between the sexes. Overall, the pattern of results from both studies suggests that the trajectory of social motivation across adolescence is characterized by upward and downward shifts that do not depend on the sex of the rats. During training, in both studies, the mean number of social gate openings and percentage of social gate openings was higher at P30 (prepubertal, early adolescence) and P50 (late adolescence) than at P40 (mid adolescence) and P70 (adulthood) irrespective of sex. Nevertheless, the specific age comparisons that were significant depended on the study. In both studies, P30 rats had greater levels of social motivation than did adults in accessing a social reward when increased effort was required (progressive ratio tests). In an extinction test, only P30 and P50 rats continued to show more nose-pokes at the previously social gate than at the nonsocial gate, suggesting resistance to extinction. The results highlight the importance of characterizing behavior at several timepoints in adolescence to understand the neural mechanisms, many of which show similar discontinuities as they develop across adolescence.

Aperiodic components and aperiodic-adjusted alpha-band oscillations in children with ADHD

This study aimed to investigate the aperiodic properties and aperiodic-adjusted alpha-band oscillations in children with ADHD, focusing on the influence of different scalp regions and lateralization on these neural correlates. Sixty-two ADHD children and 52 typical developing children aged 6-12 years were enrolled. EEG recordings were made with eyes closed for a minimum of 6 min. The 'FOOOF' was used to compute aperiodic parameters (exponent and offset), and aperiodic-adjusted alpha-band features including center frequency (CF), adjusted power (AP), and bandwidth (BW). Mixed-design ANOVAs were conducted with two between-subjects levels (ADHD and control groups) and two within-subjects' factors (lateralization and scalp region). ANCOVAs were conducted after accounting for sex and age. The ADHD group showed a significantly lower exponent compared to the control group, and this difference was not influenced significantly by factors like lateralization, scalp region, or sex. There were no notable distinctions between the groups for other measures. We noticed alpha-band CF tends to increase with age, while only frontal AP shows a significant positive correlation with age. Significant main effects of sex and lateralization were observed for offset, along with an interaction effect between sex and lateralization for CF. Our findings indicate that children aged 6-12 with ADHD have a markedly lower exponent, suggesting that this measure could potentially serve as a biomarker for ADHD. Future studies should consider factors such as age, sex, lateralization, and scalp region when investigating aperiodic and aperiodic-adjusted features.

Brain network connectivity during peer evaluation in adolescent females: Associations with age, pubertal hormones, timing, and status

Despite copious data linking brain function with changes to social behavior and mental health, little is known about how puberty relates to brain functioning. We investigated the specificity of brain network connectivity associations with pubertal indices and age to inform neurodevelopmental models of adolescence. We examined how brain network connectivity during a peer evaluation fMRI task related to pubertal hormones (dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone), pubertal timing and status, and age. Participants were 99 adolescents assigned female at birth aged 9-15 (M = 12.38, SD = 1.81) enriched for the presence of internalizing symptoms. Multivariate analysis revealed that within Salience, between Frontoparietal - Reward and Cinguloopercular - Reward network connectivity were associated with all measures of pubertal development and age. Specifically, Salience connectivity linked with age, pubertal hormones, and status, but not timing. In contrast, Frontoparietal - Reward connectivity was only associated with hormones. Finally, Cinguloopercular - Reward connectivity related to age and pubertal status, but not hormones or timing. These results provide evidence that the salience processing underlying peer evaluation is jointly influenced by various indices of puberty and age, while coordination between cognitive control and reward circuitry is related to pubertal hormones, pubertal status, and age in unique ways.

Ketamine ameliorates activity-based anorexia of adolescent female mice through changes in GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors at postsynaptic cytoplasmic locations of pyramidal neurons and interneurons of medial prefrontal cortex

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental illness with high rates of mortality and relapse, and no approved pharmacotherapy. Using the activity-based anorexia (ABA) model of AN, we previously showed that a single sub-anesthetic intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (30 mg/kg-KET, but not 3 mg/kg-KET), has an immediate and long-lasting effect of reducing anorexia-like behavior among adolescent female mice. We also showed previously that excitatory outflow from medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) engages hunger-evoked hyperactivity, leading to the ABA condition of severe weight loss. Ketamine is known to target GluN2B-containing NMDARs (NR2B). Might synaptic plasticity involving NR2B in mPFC contribute to ketamine's ameliorative effects? We addressed this question through electron microscopic immunocytochemical quantification of GluN2B at excitatory synapses of pyramidal neurons (PN) and GABAergic interneurons (IN) in mPFC layer 1 of animals that underwent recovery from a second ABA induction (ABA2), 22 days after ketamine injection during the first ABA induction. The 30 mg/kg-KET evoked synaptic plasticity that differed for PN and IN, with changes revolving the cytoplasmic reserve pool of NR2B more than the postsynaptic membrane pool. Those individuals that suppressed hunger-evoked wheel running the most and increased food consumption during recovery from ABA2 the most showed the greatest increase of NR2B at PN and IN excitatory synapses. We hypothesize that 30 mg/kg-KET promotes long-lasting changes in the reserve cytoplasmic pool of NR2B that enables activity-dependent rapid strengthening of mPFC circuits underlying the more adaptive behavior of suppressed running and enhanced food consumption, in turn supporting better weight restoration.

Gains and Losses: Resilience to Social Defeat Stress in Adolescent Female Mice

BACKGROUND

Adolescence is a unique period of psychosocial growth during which social adversity can negatively influence mental health trajectories. Understanding how adolescent social stress impacts males and females and why some individuals are particularly affected is becoming increasingly urgent. Social defeat stress models for adolescent male mice have been effective in reproducing some physical/psychological aspects of bullying. Designing a model suitable for females has proven challenging.

METHODS

We report a version of the adolescent male accelerated social defeat stress (AcSD) paradigm adapted for females. Early adolescent C57BL/6J female mice (N = 107) were exposed to our modified AcSD procedure twice a day for 4 days and categorized as resilient or susceptible based on a social interaction test 24 hours later. Mice were then assessed for changes in Netrin-1/DCC guidance cue expression in dopamine systems, for inhibitory control in adulthood using the Go/No-Go task, or for alterations in dopamine connectivity organization in the matured prefrontal cortex.

RESULTS

Most adolescent females showed protection against stress-induced social avoidance, but in adulthood, these resilient females developed inhibitory control deficits and showed diminution of prefrontal cortex presynaptic dopamine sites. Female mice classified as susceptible were protected against cognitive and dopaminergic alterations. AcSD did not alter Netrin-1/DCC in early adolescent females, contrary to previous findings with males.

CONCLUSIONS

Preserving prosocial behavior in adolescent females may be important for survival advantage but seems to come at the price of developing persistent cognitive and dopamine deficiencies. The female AcSD paradigm produced findings comparable to those found in males, allowing mechanistic investigation in both sexes.

Corticolimbic connectivity mediates the relationship between pubertal timing and mental health problems

BACKGROUND

Undergoing puberty ahead of peers ('earlier pubertal timing') is an important risk factor for mental health problems during early adolescence. The current study examined pathways between pubertal timing and mental health via connectivity of neural systems implicated in emotional reactivity and regulation (specifically corticolimbic connections) in 9- to 14-year-olds.

METHOD

Research questions were examined in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a large population representative sample in the United States. Linear mixed models examined associations between pubertal timing and resting-state corticolimbic connectivity. Significant connections were examined as potential mediators of the relationship between pubertal timing and mental health (withdrawn depressed and rule-breaking) problems. Exploratory analyses interrogated whether the family environment moderated neural risk patterns in those undergoing puberty earlier than their peers.

RESULTS

Earlier pubertal timing was related to decreased connectivity between limbic structures (bilateral amygdala and right hippocampus) and the cingulo-opercular network, left amygdala and somatomotor (mouth) network, as well as between the left hippocampus and ventral attention network and visual network. Corticolimbic connections also mediated the relationship between earlier pubertal timing and increased withdrawn depressed problems (but not rule-breaking problems). Finally, parental acceptance buffered against connectivity patterns that were implicated in withdrawn depressed problems in those undergoing puberty earlier than their peers.

CONCLUSION

Findings highlight the role of decreased corticolimbic connectivity in mediating pathways between earlier pubertal timing and withdrawn depressed problems, and we present preliminary evidence that the family environment may buffer against these neural risk patterns during early adolescence.

Recalibration of the stress response system over adult development: Is there a perinatal recalibration period?

During early life-sensitive periods (i.e., fetal, infancy), the developing stress response system adaptively calibrates to match environmental conditions, whether harsh or supportive. Recent evidence suggests that puberty is another window when the stress system is open to recalibration if environmental conditions have shifted significantly. Whether additional periods of recalibration exist in adulthood remains to be established. The present paper draws parallels between childhood (re)calibration periods and the perinatal period to hypothesize that this phase may be an additional window of stress recalibration in adult life. Specifically, the perinatal period (defined here to include pregnancy, lactation, and early parenthood) is also a developmental switch point characterized by heightened neural plasticity and marked changes in stress system function. After discussing these similarities, lines of empirical evidence needed to substantiate the perinatal stress recalibration hypothesis are proposed, and existing research support is reviewed. Complexities and challenges related to delineating the boundaries of perinatal stress recalibration and empirically testing this hypothesis are discussed, as well as possibilities for future multidisciplinary research. In the theme of this special issue, perinatal stress recalibration may be a mechanism of multilevel, multisystem risk, and resilience, both intra-individually and intergenerationally, with implications for optimizing interventions.

Development of Iron Status Measures during Youth: Associations with Sex, Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status, Cognitive Performance, and Brain Structure

BACKGROUND

Iron is essential to brain function, and iron deficiency during youth may adversely impact neurodevelopment. Understanding the developmental time course of iron status and its association with neurocognitive functioning is important for identifying windows for intervention.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to characterize developmental change in iron status and understand its association with cognitive performance and brain structure during adolescence using data from a large pediatric health network.

METHODS

This study included a cross-sectional sample of 4899 participants (2178 males; aged 8-22 y at the time of participation, M [SD] = 14.24 [3.7]) who were recruited from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia network. Prospectively collected research data were enriched with electronic medical record data that included hematological measures related to iron status, including serum hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin (33,015 total samples). At the time of participation, cognitive performance was assessed using the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery, and brain white matter integrity was assessed using diffusion-weighted MRI in a subset of individuals.

RESULTS

Developmental trajectories were characterized for all metrics and revealed that sex differences emerged after menarche such that females had reduced iron status relative to males [all R2partial > 0.008; all false discovery rates (FDRs) < 0.05]. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with higher hemoglobin concentrations throughout development (R2partial = 0.005; FDR < 0.001), and the association was greatest during adolescence. Higher hemoglobin concentrations were associated with better cognitive performance during adolescence (R2partial = 0.02; FDR < 0.001) and mediated the association between sex and cognition (mediation effect = -0.107; 95% CI: -0.191, -0.02). Higher hemoglobin concentration was also associated with greater brain white matter integrity in the neuroimaging subsample (R2partial = 0.06, FDR = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

Iron status evolves during youth and is lowest in females and individuals of low socioeconomic status during adolescence. Diminished iron status during adolescence has consequences for neurocognition, suggesting that this critical period of neurodevelopment may be an important window for intervention that has the potential to reduce health disparities in at-risk populations.

Fronto-amygdala resting state functional connectivity is associated with anxiety symptoms among adolescent girls more advanced in pubertal maturation

Early adolescence, with the onset of puberty, is an important period when sex differences in anxiety emerge, with girls reporting significantly higher anxiety symptoms than boys. This study examined the role of puberty on fronto-amygdala functional connectivity and risk of anxiety symptoms in 70 girls (age 11-13) who completed a resting state fMRI scan, self-report measures of anxiety symptoms and pubertal status, and provided basal testosterone levels (64 girls). Resting state fMRI data were preprocessed using fMRIPrep and connectivity indices were extracted from ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and amygdala regions-of-interest. We tested moderated mediation models and hypothesized that vmPFC-amygdala would mediate the relation between three indices of puberty (testosterone and adrenarcheal/gonadarcheal development) and anxiety, with puberty moderating the relation between connectivity and anxiety. Results showed a significant moderation effect of testosterone and adrenarcheal development in the right amygdala and a rostral/dorsal area of the vmPFC and of gonadarcheal development in the left amygdala and a medial area of the vmPFC on anxiety symptoms. Simple slope analyses showed that vmPFC-amygdala connectivity was negatively associated with anxiety only in girls more advanced in puberty suggesting that sensitivity to the effects of puberty on fronto-amygdala function could contribute to risk for anxiety disorders among adolescent girls.

Mood Symptom Dimensions and Developmental Differences in Neurocognition in Adolescence

Adolescence is critical period of neurocognitive development as well as increased prevalence of mood pathology. This cross-sectional study replicated developmental patterns of neurocognition and tested whether mood symptoms moderated developmental effects. Participants were 419 adolescents (n=246 with current mood disorders) who completed reward learning and executive functioning tasks, and reported on age, puberty, and mood symptoms. Structural equation modeling revealed a quadratic relationship between puberty and reward learning performance that was moderated by symptom severity: in early puberty, adolescents reporting higher manic symptoms exhibited heightened reward learning performance (better maximizing of rewards on learning tasks), whereas adolescents reporting elevated anhedonia showed blunted reward learning performance. Models also showed a linear relationship between age and executive functioning that was moderated by manic symptoms: adolescents reporting higher mania showed poorer executive functioning at older ages. Findings suggest neurocognitive development is altered in adolescents with mood pathology and suggest directions for longitudinal studies.

Ketamine ameliorates activity-based anorexia of adolescent female mice through changes in the prevalence of NR2B-containing NMDA receptors at excitatory synapses that are in opposite directions for of pyramidal neurons versus GABA interneurons In medial prefrontal cortex

A previous study showed that a single sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine (30 mg/kg-KET, IP) has an immediate and long-lasting (>20 days) effect of reducing maladaptive behaviors associated with activity-based anorexia (ABA) among adolescent female mice. This study sought to determine whether synaptic plasticity involving NR2B-containing NMDA receptors (NR2B) at excitatory synapses in the prelimbic region of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) contributes to this ameliorative effect. To this end, quantitative electron microscopic analyses of NR2B-subunit immunoreactivity at excitatory synapses of pyramidal neurons (PN) and GABAergic interneurons (GABA-IN) were conducted upon layer 1 of mPFC of the above-described mice that received a single efficacious 30 mg/kg-KET (N=8) versus an inefficacious 3 mg/kg-KET (N=8) dose during the food-restricted day of the first ABA induction (ABA1). Brain tissue was collected after these animals underwent recovery from ABA1, then of recovery from a second ABA induction (ABA2), 22 days after the ketamine injection. For all three parameters used to quantify ABA resilience (increased food consumption, reduced wheel running, body weight gain), 30 mg/kg-KET evoked synaptic plasticity in opposite directions for PN and GABA-IN, with changes at excitatory synapses on GABA-IN dominating the adaptive behaviors more than on PN. The synaptic changes were in directions consistent with changes in the excitatory outflow from mPFC that weaken food consumption-suppression, strengthen wheel running suppression and enhance food consumption. We hypothesize that 30 mg/kg-KET promotes these long-lasting changes in the excitatory outflow from mPFC after acutely blocking the hunger and wheel-access activated synaptic circuits underlying maladaptive behaviors during ABA.

Puberty initiates a unique stage of social learning and development prior to adulthood: Insights from studies of adolescence in wild chimpanzees

In humans, puberty initiates a period of rapid growth, change, and formative neurobehavioral development. Brain and behavior changes during this maturational window contribute to opportunities for social learning. Here we provide new insights into adolescence as a unique period of social learning and development by describing field studies of our closest living relatives, chimpanzees. Like humans, chimpanzees have a multiyear juvenile life stage between weaning and puberty onset followed by a multiyear adolescent life stage after pubertal onset but prior to socially-recognized adulthood. As they develop increasing autonomy from caregivers, adolescent chimpanzees explore and develop many different types of social relationships with a wide range of individuals in a highly flexible social environment. We describe how adolescent social motivations and experiences differ from those of juveniles and adults and expose adolescents to high levels of uncertainty, risk, and vulnerability, as well as opportunities for adaptive social learning. We discuss how these adolescent learning experiences may be shaped by early life and in turn shape varied adult social outcomes. We outline how future chimpanzee field research can contribute in new ways to a more integrative interdisciplinary understanding of adolescence as a developmental window of adaptive social learning and resilience.

Puberty contributes to adolescent development of fronto-striatal functional connectivity supporting inhibitory control

Adolescence is defined by puberty and represents a period characterized by neural circuitry maturation (e.g., fronto-striatal systems) facilitating cognitive improvements. Though studies have characterized age-related changes, the extent to which puberty influences maturation of fronto-striatal networks is less known. Here, we combine two longitudinal datasets to characterize the role of puberty in the development of fronto-striatal resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and its relationship to inhibitory control in 106 10-18-year-olds. Beyond age effects, we found that puberty was related to decreases in rsFC between the caudate and the anterior vmPFC, rostral and ventral ACC, and v/dlPFC, as well as with rsFC increases between the dlPFC and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) across males and females. Stronger caudate rsFC with the dlPFC and vlPFC during early puberty was associated with worse inhibitory control and slower correct responses, respectively, whereas by late puberty, stronger vlPFC rsFC with the dorsal striatum was associated with faster correct responses. Taken together, our findings suggest that certain fronto-striatal connections are associated with pubertal maturation beyond age effects, which, in turn are related to inhibitory control. We discuss implications of puberty-related fronto-striatal maturation to further our understanding of pubertal effects related to adolescent cognitive and affective neurodevelopment.

The role of dopamine and endocannabinoid systems in prefrontal cortex development: Adolescence as a critical period

The prefrontal cortex plays a central role in the control of complex cognitive processes including action control and decision making. It also shows a specific pattern of delayed maturation related to unique behavioral changes during adolescence and allows the development of adult cognitive processes. The adolescent brain is extremely plastic and critically vulnerable to external insults. Related to this vulnerability, adolescence is also associated with the emergence of numerous neuropsychiatric disorders involving alterations of prefrontal functions. Within prefrontal microcircuits, the dopamine and the endocannabinoid systems have widespread effects on adolescent-specific ontogenetic processes. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the maturation of the dopamine system and the endocannabinoid system in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence. We discuss how they interact with GABA and glutamate neurons to modulate prefrontal circuits and how they can be altered by different environmental events leading to long-term neurobiological and behavioral changes at adulthood. Finally, we aim to identify several future research directions to help highlight gaps in our current knowledge on the maturation of these microcircuits.

Pathway-specific GABAergic inhibition contributes to the gain of resilience against anorexia-like behavior of adolescent female mice

Anorexia nervosa is one of the most debilitating mental illnesses that emerges during adolescence, especially among females. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severe voluntary food restriction and compulsive exercising, which combine to cause extreme body weight loss. We use activity-based anorexia (ABA), an animal model, to investigate the neurobiological bases of vulnerability to anorexia nervosa. This is a Mini-Review, focused on new ideas that have emerged based on recent findings from the Aoki Lab. Our findings point to the cellular and molecular underpinnings of three ABA phenomena: (1) age-dependence of ABA vulnerability; (2) individual differences in the persistence of ABA vulnerability during adolescence; (3) GABAergic synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex that contributes to the suppression of the maladaptive anorexia-like behaviors. We also include new data on the contribution to ABA vulnerability by cell type-specific knockdown of a GABA receptor subunit, α4, in dorsal hippocampus. Although the GABA system recurs as a key player in the gain of ABA resilience, the data predict why targeting the GABA system, singularly, may have only limited efficacy in treating anorexia nervosa. This is because boosting the GABAergic system may suppress the maladaptive behavior of over-exercising but could also suppress food consumption. We hypothesize that a sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine may be the magic bullet, since a single injection of this drug to mid-adolescent female mice undergoing ABA induction enhances food consumption and reduces wheel running, thereby reducing body weight loss through plasticity at excitatory synaptic inputs to both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The same treatment is not as efficacious during late adolescence but multiple dosing of ketamine can suppress ABA vulnerability partially. This caveat underscores the importance of conducting behavioral, synaptic and molecular analyses across multiple time points spanning the developmental stage of adolescence and into adulthood. Since this is a Mini-Review, we recommend additional literature for readers seeking more comprehensive reviews on these subjects.

GABA System Modifications During Periods of Hormonal Flux Across the Female Lifespan

The female lifespan is marked by periods of dramatic hormonal fluctuation. Changes in the ovarian hormones estradiol and progesterone, in addition to the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone, are among the most significant and have been shown to have widespread effects on the brain. This review summarizes current understanding of alterations that occur within the GABA system during the major hormonal transition periods of puberty, the ovarian cycle, pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as reproductive aging. The functional impacts of altered inhibitory activity during these times are also discussed. Lastly, avenues for future research are identified, which, if pursued, can broaden understanding of the GABA system in the female brain and potentially lead to better treatments for women experiencing changes in brain function at each of these hormonal transition periods.

Adolescent thalamic inhibition leads to long-lasting impairments in prefrontal cortex function

Impaired cortical maturation is a postulated mechanism in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia. In the sensory cortex, activity relayed by the thalamus during a postnatal sensitive period is essential for proper cortical maturation. Whether thalamic activity also shapes prefrontal cortical maturation is unknown. We show that inhibiting the mediodorsal and midline thalamus in mice during adolescence leads to a long-lasting decrease in thalamo-prefrontal projection density and reduced excitatory drive to prefrontal neurons. It also caused prefrontal-dependent cognitive deficits during adulthood associated with disrupted prefrontal cross-correlations and task outcome encoding. Thalamic inhibition during adulthood had no long-lasting consequences. Exciting the thalamus in adulthood during a cognitive task rescued prefrontal cross-correlations, task outcome encoding and cognitive deficits. These data point to adolescence as a sensitive window of thalamocortical circuit maturation. Furthermore, by supporting prefrontal network activity, boosting thalamic activity provides a potential therapeutic strategy for rescuing cognitive deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Effects of cannabinoid exposure on short-term memory and medial orbitofrontal cortex function and chemistry in adolescent female rhesus macaques

Aim

There is increasing concern that cannabinoid exposure during adolescence may disturb brain maturation and produce long-term cognitive deficits. However, studies in human subjects have provided limited evidence for such causality. The present study utilized behavioral and neuroimaging endpoints in female non-human primates to examine the effects of acute and chronic exposure during adolescence to the cannabinoid receptor full agonist, AM2389, on cognitive processing and brain function and chemistry.

Materials and methods

Adolescent female rhesus macaques were trained on a titrating-delay matching-to-sample (TDMTS) touchscreen task that assays working memory. TDMTS performance was assessed before and during chronic exposure to AM2389, following antagonist (rimonabant) administration, and after discontinuation of the chronic regimen. Resting-state fMRI connectivity and magnetic resonance spectroscopy data were acquired prior to drug treatment, during chronic exposure, and following its discontinuation. Voxels were placed in the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC), a region involved in memory processing that undergoes maturation during adolescence.

Results

TDMTS performance was dose-dependently disrupted by acute AM2389; however, chronic treatment resulted in tolerance to these effects. TDMTS performance also was disrupted by discontinuation of the chronic regimen but surprisingly, not by rimonabant administration during chronic AM2389 treatment. mOFC N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratio decreased after acute and chronic administration but returned to baseline values following discontinuation of chronic treatment. Finally, intra-network functional connectivity (mOFC) increased during the chronic regimen and returned to baseline values following its discontinuation.

Conclusion

Neural effects of a cannabinergic drug may persist during chronic exposure, notwithstanding the development of tolerance to behavioral effects. However, such effects dissipate upon discontinuation, reflecting the restorative capacity of affected brain processes.

Sex differences in risk behavior parameters in adolescent mice: Relationship with brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the medial prefrontal cortex

Adolescence is as a period of development characterized by impulsive and risk-seeking behaviors. Risk behaviors (RB) involves exposure to dangerous or negative consequences to achieve goal-directed behaviors, such as reward-seeking. On the other hand, risk aversion/assessment behaviors allow the individual to gather information or avoid potentially threatening situations. Evidence has suggested that both behavioral processes, RB and risk assessment (RA), may have sex-differences. However, sex-specific behavioral patterns implicated in RB and RA are not fully understood. To address that, we investigated sex differences in risk-behavioral parameters in a decision-making task developed for rodents. In addition, we investigated the potential role of sex-dependent differences in gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) exon IV in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which has been implicated to mediate PFC-related behavioral dysfunctions. Male and female C57BL/6J adolescent mice were evaluated in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) to assess anxiety-like behaviors and in the predator-odor risk taking (PORT) task. The PORT task is a decision-making paradigm in which a conflict between the motivation towards reward pursuit and the threat elicited by predatory olfactory cues (coyote urine) is explored. After behavioral testing, animals were euthanized and BDNF exon IV gene expression was measured by RT-qPCR. Comparative and correlational analyses for behavioral and molecular parameters were performed for both sexes. We observed that female mice spent more time exploring the middle chamber of the PORT apparatus in the aversive condition, which is an indicative of avoidance behavior. Female mice also had a higher latency to collect the reward than male mice and presented less time exploring the open arms of the EPM. BDNF exon IV gene expression was higher among females, and there was a positive correlation between the BDNF and PORT behavioral parameters. Our findings suggest sex-dependent effects in the PORT task. Females presented higher RA and avoidance behavior profile and expressed higher levels of BDNF exon IV in the mPFC. Moreover, higher BDNF expression was correlated with RA behaviors, which suggests that adolescent females tend to evaluate the risks more than adolescent males and that BDNF gene expression may be mediating decision-making processes.

Age- and sex-specific effects of stress on parvalbumin interneurons in preclinical models: Relevance to sex differences in clinical neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders

Stress is a major risk factor for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, with the capacity to impact susceptibility to disease as well as long-term neurobiological and behavioral outcomes. Parvalbumin (PV) interneurons, the most prominent subtype of GABAergic interneurons in the cortex, are uniquely responsive to stress due to their protracted development throughout the highly plastic neonatal period and into puberty and adolescence. Additionally, PV + interneurons appear to respond to stress in a sex-specific manner. This review aims to discuss existing preclinical studies that support our overall hypothesis that the sex-and age-specific impacts of stress on PV + interneurons contribute to differences in individual vulnerability to stress across the lifespan, particularly in regard to sex differences in the diagnostic rate of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric diseases in clinical populations. We also emphasize the importance of studying sex as a biological variable to fully understand the mechanistic and behavioral differences between males and females in models of neuropsychiatric disease.

Mesocorticolimbic Dopamine Pathways Across Adolescence: Diversity in Development

Mesocorticolimbic dopamine circuity undergoes a protracted maturation during adolescent life. Stable adult levels of behavioral functioning in reward, motivational, and cognitive domains are established as these pathways are refined, however, their extended developmental window also leaves them vulnerable to perturbation by environmental factors. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying dopamine pathway development in the adolescent brain, and how the environment influences these processes to establish or disrupt neurocircuit diversity. We further integrate these recent studies into the larger historical framework of anatomical and neurochemical changes occurring during adolescence in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system. While dopamine neuron heterogeneity is increasingly appreciated at molecular, physiological, and anatomical levels, we suggest that a developmental facet may play a key role in establishing vulnerability or resilience to environmental stimuli and experience in distinct dopamine circuits, shifting the balance between healthy brain development and susceptibility to psychiatric disease.

Effects of Biological Sex and Stress Exposure on Ventromedial Prefrontal Regulation of Mood-Related Behaviors

The ventral portion of the medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) regulates mood, sociability, and context-dependent behaviors. Consequently, altered vmPFC activity has been implicated in the biological basis of emotional disorders. Recent methodological advances have greatly enhanced the ability to investigate how specific prefrontal cell populations regulate mood-related behaviors, as well as the impact of long-term stress on vmPFC function. However, emerging preclinical data identify prominent sexual divergence in vmPFC behavioral regulation and stress responsivity. Notably, the rodent infralimbic cortex (IL), a vmPFC subregion critical for anti-depressant action, shows marked functional divergence between males and females. Accordingly, this review examines IL encoding and modulation of mood-related behaviors, including coping style, reward, and sociability, with a focus on sex-based outcomes. We also review how these processes are impacted by prolonged stress exposure. Collectively, the data suggest that chronic stress has sex-specific effects on IL excitatory/inhibitory balance that may account for sex differences in the prevalence and course of mood disorders.