ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the role of hormones in brain development, as well as in the physical development of the young person. I note that, when people talk about “raging hormones”, they are usually thinking of the sex hormones. However, there are dozens of hormones in our brains and these play a key role in the neurological changes taking place during the teenage years. I start the chapter by looking at puberty, and question how physical puberty and changes in the brain are linked together. I then go on to consider different sites in the brain, and how these are affected by hormones. I note the variability in hormone levels during the teenage years. I then go on to review four key hormones: these include dopamine, cortisol, serotonin and melatonin. Each has a different function, but each plays a role in affecting behaviour and adjustment in the young person. In this chapter, I cover four themes that are central to understanding teenagers, and which are affected by hormone levels. These themes include stress, risky behaviour, reward processing and the use of alcohol and drugs. I conclude by noting that it would be impossible to understand brain development without considering the part that hormones play in this process.
