Longitudinal associations between structural prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens development and daily identity formation processes across adolescence
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, vol. 46, pp. 100880
Abstract
15.92 years) were followed across three waves, covering 4 years. Self-reported daily educational identity and structural brain data of lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC)/anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), medial PFC, and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) was collected across three waves. All hypotheses were pre-registered. Latent class growth analyses confirmed 2 identity subgroups: an identity synthesis class (characterized by strong commitments, and low uncertainty), and an identity moratorium class (high daily identity uncertainty). Latent growth curve models revealed, on average, delayed maturation of the lateral PFC/ACC and medial PFC and stable NAcc. Yet, adolescents in identity moratorium showed lower levels and less decline in NAcc gray matter volume. Lateral PFC/ACC and medial PFC trajectories did not differ between identity subgroups. Exploratory analyses revealed that adolescents with higher baseline levels and delayed maturation of lateral PFC/ACC and medial PFC gray matter volume, surface area, and cortical thickness reported higher baseline levels and stronger increases of in-depth exploration. These results provide insight into how individual differences in brain development relate to fluctuations in educational identity development across adolescence and young adulthood.
Authors 10
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Leiden University · Utrecht University · Erasmus University Rotterdam
Affiliation as printed
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Research Center Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden University, The Netherlands. Electronic address: becht@essb.eur.nl
Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden University, The Netherlands
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Research Center Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Leiden University · Erasmus University Rotterdam
Affiliation as printed
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden University, The Netherlands
Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden University, The Netherlands
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden University, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden University, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Research Center Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Research Center Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Leiden University · Erasmus University Rotterdam
Affiliation as printed
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden University, The Netherlands
Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden University, The Netherlands
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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