Measuring and interpreting individual differences in fetal, infant, and toddler neurodevelopment.

As scientists interested in fetal, infant, and toddler (FIT) neurodevelopment, our research questions often focus on how individual children differ in their neurodevelopment and the predictive value of those individual differences for long-term neural and behavioral outcomes. Measuring and interpreting individual differences in neurodevelopment can present challenges: Is there a "standard" way for the human brain to develop? How do the semantic, practical, or theoretical constraints that we place on studying "development" influence how we measure and interpret individual differences? While it is important to consider these questions across the lifespan, they are particularly relevant for conducting and interpreting research on individual differences in fetal, infant, and toddler neurodevelopment due to the rapid, profound, and heterogeneous changes happening during this period, which may be predictive of long-term outcomes. This article, therefore, has three goals: 1) to provide an overview about how individual differences in neurodevelopment are studied in the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience, 2) to identify challenges and considerations when studying individual differences in neurodevelopment, and 3) to discuss potential implications and solutions moving forward.

The development and structure of the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study EEG protocol.

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, a multi-site prospective longitudinal cohort study, will examine human brain, cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development beginning prenatally and planned through early childhood. Electroencephalography (EEG) is one of two brain imaging modalities central to the HBCD Study. EEG records electrical signals from the scalp that reflect electrical brain activity.

Substance use during pregnancy: the role of mindfulness in reducing stigma.

Stigmatization is a significant healthcare barrier among individuals who utilize substances during pregnancy. Of the 3.6 million U.

Factors Associated with Confirmed and Unconfirmed Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis in Children Volunteering for Research.

Purpose: Diagnostic accuracy of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is crucial to track and characterize ASD, as well as to guide appropriate interventions at the individual level. However, under-diagnosis, over-diagnosis, and misdiagnosis of ASD are still prevalent.

Methods: We describe 232 children (M = 10.

Diagnostic assessment of autism spectrum disorder in transgender and gender diverse youth.

Higher prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and associated traits has been observed among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth, and the number of TGD youth requesting evaluation for autism is growing. This study explored the demographic and clinical profiles of TGD youth evaluated in a specialty autism clinic. Retrospective autism evaluation results for 41 TGD youth aged 5-18 years and 67 cisgender-matched controls were included in the study.

Longitudinal Stability of Neural Correlates of Pediatric Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Pilot Study of Event Related Potentials and Electroencephalography.

Objective: Stability and developmental effects of electroencephalography (EEG) and event related potential (ERP) correlates of ADHD are understudied. This pilot study examined stability and developmental changes in ERP and EEG metrics of interest.

Methods: Thirty-seven 7 to 11-year-old children with ADHD and 15 typically developing (TD) children completed EEG twice, 11 to 36 months apart.

Neural Markers of Methylphenidate Response in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Background: Despite widespread use of stimulants to treat ADHD, individual responses vary considerably and few predictors of response have been identified. The identification of reliable and clinically feasible biomarkers would facilitate a precision medicine approach to pharmacological treatment of ADHD. We test the hypothesis that two electroencephalography (EEG) based neural signatures of ADHD, resting aperiodic slope exponent and novelty P3 amplitude, are markers of methylphenidate response in children.

Reduced Error Recognition Explains Post-Error Slowing Differences among Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective: Youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often show reduced post-error slowing (PES) compared to typically developing controls. This finding has been interpreted as evidence that children with ADHD have error recognition and adaptive control impairments. However, several studies report mixed results regarding PES differences in ADHD, and among healthy controls, there is considerable debate about the cognitive-behavioral origin of PES.

Effortful control moderates the relation between negative emotionality and socially appropriate behavior.

The current study investigated the relation between negative emotionality and socially appropriate behavior in a diverse sample of preschool and kindergarten children (N = 74). More specifically, we tested whether effortful control would moderate this relation. A computerized task measured children's effortful control by assessing their accuracy in shifting attention between different emotionally valenced faces (happy and angry) while inhibiting their responses to neutral faces.

Temperament Traits Mark Liability for Coexisting Psychiatric Symptoms in Children With Elevated ADHD Symptoms.

Among children with ADHD, coexisting psychiatric disorders are common and associated with greater impairment and symptom persistence. Given that temperament traits are easily measured, developmentally stable, and variable among youth with ADHD, temperament profiles may be clinically useful for predicting liability for coexisting psychiatric symptoms in this population. Eighty-three children with ADHD symptoms participated.

Sexual orientation and treatment-seeking for depression in a multilingual worldwide sample.

Background: Prior research has found higher rates of mental health problems among sexual minority individuals. We examine treatment-seeking for depression, as well as its relationship with sexual orientation, in a large, multilingual, international sample.

Method: Participants in an automated, quintilingual internet-based depression screening tool were screened for depression, and completed several background measures, including sexual orientation (with an option to decline to state) and past and current depression treatment seeking.