Early adversity, brain development, and mental health during adolescence

The experience of early adversity can shape neurodevelopment during sensitive periods and is a transdiagnostic risk-factor for most mental disorders. My work examines associations between adverse experiences (e.g., childhood maltreatment, socioeconomic disadvantage) and neurodevelopment, with the aim to identify neurobiological risk markers that relate to youth psychopathology. Using multivariate and machine learning methods, as well as rich longitudinal data, our work demonstrates the widespread and long-term impacts of early adversity on brain structural and functional development and mental health. This research also revealed psychological and environmental factors that buffer against the detrimental effects of adversity on functional and structural brain development and, in turn, mental health. This talk will aim to summarise some key findings from my research and provide insight into how early experiences shape neural and behavioural development.