Study reveals 11-year-olds who question their gender identity or express a desire to change their gender enter puberty earlier than their peers.
The developmental onset of puberty is dependent upon the TBX3 gene, a new study reports. Researchers also found puberty onset is linked to neural differentiation during the development of the hypothalamus.
Hormonal contraception disrupts signal transmission between cells in the prefrontal cortex of adolescents. Hormonal birth control also elevates levels of stress hormones in the brain.
A new study reveals how a receptor in the brain called MC3R detects nutritional states in the body and regulates both growth rate and the timing of puberty.
Researchers have identified two molecules that might be linked to Kallmann syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes a lack of hormones which stimulate the brain to produce signals required to reach sexual maturity.
Study of female fertility from age 9 to menopause reveals specific mechanisms that may affect fertility at different ages. The mechanisms depend on naturally occurring chromosome errors that vary depending on age.
A new study reveals a group of genes that induces differences in brain development of males and females, and triggers the initiation of sexual maturation.
A new study reports children who are subjected violence early in life experience faster biological aging, including earlier onset of puberty and epigenetic aging, than peers who are not abused. Additionally, children exposed to other early life adversities, such as poverty and food insecurity, show delayed signs of pubertal development.
A new study reveals our longevity and sexual maturity are governed by our brains, not our bodies. Researchers discovered that animals with more neurons in the cerebral cortex live longer, regardless of their body size.
A new study challenges conventional belief, reporting pubertal hormones are not responsible for changes in social behavior during adolescence.
Kisspeptin, a hormone found in the brain, drives attraction and sexual behavior, researchers report.
While it is widely believed social cues can accelerate puberty, previous studies have found it difficult to clearly identify the most crucial signals responsible for the change. A new study in PLOS Biology reveals sexual touch contributes to the acceleration of puberty.