A robust factor in regional brain structural change in the present study was pubertal advancement as measured by self-reported Tanner staging. Advancing a step in Tanner stage heralded declines in lateral frontal, anterior cingulate, precuneus, and parietal gray matter volumes and expansion of the lateral ventricles and cortical sulci. Volume changes were uniquely related to scan interval rather than to age. Despite limitations of self-reported Tanner stage determination, this method is still considered valid (Duke et al., 1980) and a“gold standard” (Dorn et al., 2006). Although as noted by Luna et al. (Luna et al., 2010) the validity of self-reported Tanner staging can be affected by age, sex, ethnicity, race, and weight status (Bonat et al., 2002; Neinstein, 1982; Raman et al., 2009; Schlossberger et al., 1992), the young adolescents in the current study were of relatively high socioeconomic status, mostly Caucasian, and with normal BMI, factors that are associated with valid self-staging.
