Adolescence may mark a sensitive period for the development of higher-order cognition through enhanced plasticity of cortical circuits. At the same time, animal research indicates that pubertal hormones may represent one key mechanism for closing sensitive periods in the associative neocortex, thereby resulting in decreased plasticity of cortical circuits in adolescence. In the present review, we set out to solve some of the existing ambiguity and examine how hormonal changes associated with pubertal onset may modulate plasticity in higher-order cognition during adolescence. We build on existing age-comparative cognitive training studies to explore how the potential for change in neural resources and behavioral repertoire differs across age groups. We review animal and human brain imaging studies, which demonstrate a link between brain development, neurochemical mechanisms of plasticity, and pubertal hormones. Overall, the existent literature indicates that pubertal hormones play a pivotal role in regulating the mechanisms of experience-dependent plasticity during adolescence. However, the extent to which hormonal changes associated with pubertal onset increase or decrease brain plasticity may depend on the specific cognitive domain, the sex, and associated brain networks. We discuss implications for future research and suggest that systematical longitudinal assessments of pubertal change together with cognitive training interventions may be a fruitful way toward a better understanding of adolescent plasticity. As the age of pubertal onset is decreasing across developed societies, this may also have important educational and clinical implications, especially with respect to the effects that earlier puberty has on learning.

通过增强皮质回路的可塑性，青春期可能标志着高阶认知发展的敏感时期。同时，动物研究表明，青春期激素可能是关闭联想新皮层敏感期的关键机制之一，从而导致减少青春期皮质回路的可塑性。在本综述中，我们着手解决一些现有的歧义，并研究与青春期开始相关的激素变化如何调节青春期高阶认知的可塑性。我们以现有的年龄比较认知训练研究为基础，探索不同年龄组的神经资源和行为曲目变化的潜力如何不同。我们回顾了动物和人类大脑成像研究，这些研究证明了大脑发育、可塑性的神经化学机制和青春期激素之间的联系。总体而言，现有文献表明，青春期激素在调节青春期经验依赖性可塑性机制方面发挥着关键作用。然而，与青春期开始相关的激素变化增加或减少大脑可塑性的程度可能取决于特定的认知领域、性别和相关的大脑网络。我们讨论了对未来研究的影响，并建议对青春期变化进行系统的纵向评估以及认知训练干预可能是更好地理解青少年可塑性的有效途径。随着发达社会中青春期开始年龄的减少，这也可能具有重要的教育和临床意义，尤其是在青春期提前对学习的影响方面。我们讨论了对未来研究的影响，并建议对青春期变化进行系统的纵向评估以及认知训练干预可能是更好地理解青少年可塑性的有效途径。随着发达社会中青春期开始年龄的减少，这也可能具有重要的教育和临床意义，尤其是在青春期提前对学习的影响方面。我们讨论了对未来研究的影响，并建议对青春期变化进行系统的纵向评估以及认知训练干预可能是更好地理解青少年可塑性的有效途径。随着发达社会中青春期开始年龄的减少，这也可能具有重要的教育和临床意义，尤其是在青春期提前对学习的影响方面。