Sleep and the Adolescent Brain

Adolescence is a period of significant brain maturation, and cognitive and emotional development. Interacting and reflecting with these processes is sleep. In this review we synthesize the current and emerging literature on the role of adolescent sleep in brain maturation. On the one hand, studies in animals and humans suggest that sleep actively supports neurodevelopment during the adolescent period, although mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. On the other hand, over the last decade the value of sleep as a time to measure brain activity and study the brain maturational process has been appreciated. The transition from childhood to adolescence also heralds changes to sleep behavior, with sleep duration shortening across the adolescent period. This decline has important implications for adolescent cognitive and mental health, although the long-term consequences on adolescent brain maturation remain unknown.