Biology subjects

Lichenstein, S. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Lichenstein, S. D..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Multivariate environmental exposures are reflected in whole-brain functional connectivity and cognition in youth

Each individuals complex, multidimensional environment, known as their "exposome", plays an essential role in shaping cognitive neurodevelopment. Understanding the mechanisms whereby childrens exposome influences their development is crucial to facilitate the design of interventions to foster positive developmental trajectories for all youth. Recent work has identified a general exposome factor associated with socio-economic inequality that is strongly related to cognition and individual differences in the spatial organization of functional brain networks in youth. Building on these findings, the current study explores whether alterations in functional connectivity may represent a potential mechanism linking variation in the exposome to cognitive performance. We apply a data-driven, cross-validated, whole-brain machine learning approach, connectome-based statistical inference, to identify patterns of functional connectivity associated with exposome scores among early adolescents enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study using data collected during three cognitive tasks and during rest. Additionally, we investigate whether the identified patterns of functional connectivity relate to individual differences in cognitive performance across three domains: General Cognition, Executive Functioning, and Learning/Memory. Models incorporating 10-fold cross-validation over 100 iterations identified consistent functional connections associated with the exposome across task and rest conditions (model performance: ns = 6,137 - 8,391, rs = 0.34 - 0.44, ps <.001). Results were robust across data collection sites and functional connections common across all significant models were associated with cognitive performance across domains (ps < 0.0009). Collectively, these findings reveal that multidimensional environmental exposures are reflected in patterns of functional connectivity and relate to cognitive functioning among youth. HighlightsO_LIPatterns of functional connectivity reflect multivariate environmental exposures. C_LIO_LIConsistent exposome-related connectivity patterns were observed across brain states. C_LIO_LIThe identified general exposome network was associated with cognitive performance across domains. C_LI Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=102 SRC="FIGDIR/small/688261v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (33K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@b5cc3aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@172f954org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14f0d01org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@deccb5_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Multidimensional components of impulsivity during early adolescence: Relationships with brain networks and future substance-use in the Adolescent Brian and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that typically increases during adolescence and is implicated in risk for substance use disorders that develop later in life. Here, we take a multivariate approach to identify latent dimensions of impulsivity, broadly defined, among youth enrolled in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study and explore associations with individual differences in demographics, substance-use initiation and canonical resting state networks (N=11,872, ages ~9-10). Using principal component analysis, we identified eight latent impulsivity dimensions, the top three of which together accounted for the majority of the variance across all impulsivity assessments. The first principal component (PC1) was a general impulsivity factor that mapped onto all impulsivity-related assessments. PC2 mapped onto a mixed impulsivity style related to both poorer, less attentive performance on the SST and decreased delay discounting. PC3 linked externalizing behaviors across multiple measures with indices of delay discounting, making delay discounting the only impulsivity-related assessment to load on all three of the top PCs. Multiple impulsivity PCs were significantly associated with subsequent initiation of alcohol and cannabis use. Finally, we found both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the PCs and functional connectivity between and within frontoparietal, cingulo-opercular, and default mode networks. These data provide a critical empirical baseline for how facets of impulsivity covary in early adolescence which may be tracked through future waves of ABCD data, enabling longitudinal elucidation of how dimensions of impulsivity interact with other individual and environmental factors to influence risk for substance use later in life.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

A Multidimensional Approach to Understanding the Emergence of Sex Differences in Internalizing Symptoms in Adolescence

Women are more vulnerable to internalizing disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety). This study took an integrative, developmental approach to investigate multidimensional factors associated with the emergence of sex differences in internalizing symptoms, using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Indices of sex hormone levels (dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, and estradiol), physical pubertal development, task-based functional brain activity, family conflict, and internalizing symptoms were drawn from the ABCD studys baseline sample (9-to 10-year-old; N = 11,844). Principal component analysis served as a data-driven dimensionality reduction technique on the internalizing subscales to yield a single robust measure of internalizing symptoms. Moderated mediation analyses assessed whether associations between known risk factors and internalizing symptoms vary by sex. Results revealed direct and indirect effects of physical pubertal development on internalizing symptoms through family conflict across sexes. No effects were found of sex hormone levels or amygdala response to fearful faces on internalizing symptoms. Females did not report overall greater internalizing symptoms relative to males, suggesting that internalizing symptoms have not yet begun to increase in females at this age. Findings provide an essential baseline for future longitudinal research on the endocrine, neurocognitive, and psychosocial factors associated with sex differences in internalizing symptoms.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Cannabis, Connectivity, and Coming of Age: Associations between Cannabis Use and Anterior Cingulate Cortex Connectivity during the Transition to Adulthood

BackgroundCannabis use is common among adolescents and emerging adults and is associated with significant adverse consequences for a subset of users. Rates of use peak between the ages of 18-25, yet the neurobiological consequences for neural systems that are actively developing during this time remain poorly understood. In particular, cannabis exposure may interfere with adaptive development of white matter pathways underlying connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex, including the cingulum and anterior thalamic radiations (ATR).\n\nMethodsThe current study examined the association between cannabis use during adolescence and emerging adulthood and white matter microstructure of the cingulum and ATR among 158 male subjects enrolled in the Pitt Mother & Child Project, a prospective, longitudinal study of risk and resilience among men of low socioeconomic status. Participants were recruited in infancy, completed follow-up assessments throughout childhood and adolescence, and underwent diffusion imaging at age 20 and 22.\n\nResultsAt age 20, moderate cannabis use across adolescence (age 12-19) was associated with higher fractional anisotropy of the cingulum and ATR, relative to both minimal and heavy adolescent use. Longitudinally, moderate and heavy extended cannabis use (age 12-21) was associated with reduced positive change in FA in both pathways from age 20 to 22, relative to minimal use.\n\nConclusionsThese results suggest that precocious white matter development may be linked to increased risk for use, whereas cannabis exposure may delay white matter maturation during the transition to adulthood and potentially impact individuals functioning later in development.

neuroscience↗