This study aimed to characterize the role of sex and pubertal markers in reward motivation behavior and neural processing in early adolescence. We used baseline and two-year follow-up data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study (15844 observations; 52% from boys; age 9–13). Pubertal development was measured with parent-reported Pubertal Development Scale, and DHEA, testosterone, and estradiol levels. Reward motivation behavior and neural processing at anticipation and feedback stages were assessed with the Monetary Incentive Delay task. Boys had higher reward motivation than girls, demonstrating greater accuracy difference between reward and neutral trials and higher task earnings. Girls had lower neural activation during reward feedback than boys in the nucleus accumbens, caudate, rostral anterior cingulate, medial orbitofrontal cortex, superior frontal gyrus and posterior cingulate. Pubertal stage and testosterone levels were positively associated with reward motivation behavior, although these associations changed when controlling for age. There were no significant associations between pubertal development and neural activation during reward anticipation and feedback. Sex differences in reward-related processing exist in early adolescence, signaling the need to understand their impact on typical and atypical functioning as it unfolds into adulthood.

中文翻译：

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青少年早期奖励相关行为和神经激活的性别和青春期变异

本研究旨在表征性别和青春期标记在青春期早期奖励动​​机行为和神经处理中的作用。我们使用青少年大脑和认知发展研究的基线和两年随访数据（15844 个观察结果；52% 来自男孩；9-13 岁）。青春期发育通过家长报告的青春期发育量表以及 DHEA、睾酮和雌二醇水平进行测量。通过货币激励延迟任务评估了预期和反馈阶段的奖励动机行为和神经处理。男孩比女孩有更高的奖励动机，表现出奖励试验和中性试验之间更大的准确性差异以及更高的任务收入。女孩在奖赏反馈过程中伏隔核、尾状核、前扣带回、内侧眶额皮质、额上回和后扣带皮层的神经激活程度低于男孩。青春期和睾酮水平与奖励动机行为呈正相关，尽管在控制年龄时这些关联发生了变化。青春期发育与奖励预期和反馈期间的神经激活之间没有显着关联。奖励相关处理中的性别差异存在于青春期早期，这表明需要了解它们对成年期典型和非典型功能的影响。