Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Examine the direct effects of puberty on dual systems imbalance for male and female youth. Test for a moderating effect of autism spectrum disorder. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development data were analyzed. Ordinary least squares regression was used to test for direct and moderated effects of interest. Entering puberty was associated with significantly greater dual systems imbalance characterized by greater sensation-seeking and lower impulse control for male youth. Autism spectrum disorder significantly moderated this relationship for male youth, resulting in lower and more negative dual systems imbalance for post-pubertal male youth with autism and the opposite observed for male youth without autism. No significant direct or moderated effects were observed for female youth. Puberty only increases the dual systems imbalance gap for male youth without autism. Male youth with autism may be at lower risk for involvement in risky behavior because of an attenuated gap.</p>