Neurobiological Mechanisms of Attention in Adolescents

Author

• Virginia Clark, Clemson UniversityFollow

Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Learning Sciences

Committee Chair/Advisor

Faiza Jamil

Committee Member

Amanda Bennett

Committee Member

Christy Brown

Committee Member

Kaileigh Byrne

Committee Member

Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens

Abstract

Adolescence is a transformative developmental period characterized by profound biological, neurological, and behavioral changes. This dissertation investigates the neurobiological underpinnings of attention in adolescents, emphasizing how internal mechanisms influence and individually shape cognitive development through the endosystem. Rooted in the intersection of human development, learning sciences, and cognitive neuroscience, this work argues for a more integrated understanding of attention as a fundamental cognitive function for learning, one that is behaviorally seen but also biologically and neurologically driven. While developmental science has often emphasized external influences such as family, culture, and environment, this work centers on the adolescent’s internal biological systems as active, mechanistic forces driving development. One of the key insights from this research is that adolescents follow diverse developmental trajectories on biological, neurological, and cognitive levels, and the works included here offer individual perspectives on cognitive development as the product of integrated processes that shape our attentional control, ultimately equipping adolescents for learning. This three-manuscript dissertation begins with a scoping literature review of adolescent attention measurement over the past eleven years. The second manuscript builds upon these findings by examining the longitudinal effects of biological puberty shifts and hormonal controls that occur during adolescence and their impact on attention. The third manuscript completes an investigation of resting-state brain networks to determine whether changes in functional connectivity are associated with attentional development during adolescence. By synthesizing methodologies and factors from across disciplines, this work contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the role biology plays in the developing individual through an interdisciplinary lens. Ultimately, this dissertation underscores the importance of accounting for both biological and neurological factors and how these discoveries will enhance our understanding of the internal and external factors that interact to shape development, aiming to inform parents, policymakers, and pedagogical practice in support of adolescent growth, achievement, and learning.

Recommended Citation

Clark, Virginia, "Neurobiological Mechanisms of Attention in Adolescents" (2026). All Dissertations. 4279.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4279

Author ORCID Identifier

0009-0006-7288-8346