Divyangana Rakesh
@divyangana.bsky.social
Lecturer and Researcher at King's College London interested in environmental influences on brain and behaviour development; garden variety socialist and photographer 📸 from 🇮🇳
Pinned
Macroeconomic income inequality, brain structure and function, and mental health - Nature Mental Health
Rakesh et al. used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort study to evaluate the relationship between state-level income inequality, brain structure and function, and mental health in young people.
www.nature.com
New paper in Nature Mental Health where we show that macroeconomic income inequality is associated with brain structure and function over and above individual-level SES and other state-level factors. These alterations may serve as pathways to mental health problems.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
new preprint out!
in this review/perspective paper, we synthesize research across network neuroscience, social neuroscience, and neuroecology to characterize how brain network organization varies across interpersonal social experience.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
in this review/perspective paper, we synthesize research across network neuroscience, social neuroscience, and neuroecology to characterize how brain network organization varies across interpersonal social experience.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
November 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
new preprint out!
in this review/perspective paper, we synthesize research across network neuroscience, social neuroscience, and neuroecology to characterize how brain network organization varies across interpersonal social experience.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
in this review/perspective paper, we synthesize research across network neuroscience, social neuroscience, and neuroecology to characterize how brain network organization varies across interpersonal social experience.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Link to a recent paper I forgot to share on bluesky! We investigated links between SES, changes in within-network connectivity, and academic outcomes in the ABCD study. Out in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience @fluxsociety.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Associations among socioeconomic disadvantage, longitudinal changes in within-network connectivity, and academic outcomes in the ABCD study
Lower parental socioeconomic status (SES) is consistently linked to lower academic achievement among adolescents, with early disparities persisting in…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Link to a recent paper I forgot to share on bluesky! We investigated links between SES, changes in within-network connectivity, and academic outcomes in the ABCD study. Out in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience @fluxsociety.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
A study in Nature Mental Health uses data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort study to evaluate the relationship between state-level income inequality, brain structure and function, and mental health in young people. go.nature.com/4872wyh 🧪
October 3, 2025 at 1:11 PM
A study in Nature Mental Health uses data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort study to evaluate the relationship between state-level income inequality, brain structure and function, and mental health in young people. go.nature.com/4872wyh 🧪
Read coverage on our article on macroeconomic income inequality, the brain, and mental health in @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Study links greater inequality to structural changes in children’s brains
Researchers say findings show inequality creates toxic environment and reducing it is ‘a public health imperative’
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Read coverage on our article on macroeconomic income inequality, the brain, and mental health in @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
New paper in Nature Mental Health where we show that macroeconomic income inequality is associated with brain structure and function over and above individual-level SES and other state-level factors. These alterations may serve as pathways to mental health problems.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Macroeconomic income inequality, brain structure and function, and mental health - Nature Mental Health
Rakesh et al. used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort study to evaluate the relationship between state-level income inequality, brain structure and function, and mental health in young people.
www.nature.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:20 PM
New paper in Nature Mental Health where we show that macroeconomic income inequality is associated with brain structure and function over and above individual-level SES and other state-level factors. These alterations may serve as pathways to mental health problems.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
New #article from Rakesh et al: Economic Inequality and Mental Health: Causality, Mechanisms, and Interventions
TL;DR: Economic inequality worsens mental health by increasing interpersonal social comparison and undermining the social capital of communities
www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fu...
TL;DR: Economic inequality worsens mental health by increasing interpersonal social comparison and undermining the social capital of communities
www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fu...
May 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
New #article from Rakesh et al: Economic Inequality and Mental Health: Causality, Mechanisms, and Interventions
TL;DR: Economic inequality worsens mental health by increasing interpersonal social comparison and undermining the social capital of communities
www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fu...
TL;DR: Economic inequality worsens mental health by increasing interpersonal social comparison and undermining the social capital of communities
www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fu...
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
“Our findings suggest that structural income inequality is associated with neurobiological differences, even after accounting for absolute income and poverty. These brain differences, in turn, help explain links to adverse mental health outcomes.”
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Macroeconomic income inequality, brain structure and function, and mental health - Nature Mental Health
Rakesh et al. used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort study to evaluate the relationship between state-level income inequality, brain structure and function, and mental health in young people.
www.nature.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:44 AM
“Our findings suggest that structural income inequality is associated with neurobiological differences, even after accounting for absolute income and poverty. These brain differences, in turn, help explain links to adverse mental health outcomes.”
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
Living in an unequal society, regardless of individual wealth, can lead to structural changes in the brains of children.
#ScienceatKings #PopulationHealth
#ScienceatKings #PopulationHealth
Study links greater inequality to structural changes in children’s brains
Researchers say findings show inequality creates toxic environment and reducing it is ‘a public health imperative’
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Living in an unequal society, regardless of individual wealth, can lead to structural changes in the brains of children.
#ScienceatKings #PopulationHealth
#ScienceatKings #PopulationHealth
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
Important work on inequality changing children’s brain structure from @divyangana.bsky.social and colleagues.
Best ways to reduce inequality:
1. Fair pay agreements for every sector
2. Abolish two child benefit cap, for universal social security
3. Fair tax.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Best ways to reduce inequality:
1. Fair pay agreements for every sector
2. Abolish two child benefit cap, for universal social security
3. Fair tax.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Study links greater inequality to structural changes in children’s brains
Researchers say findings show inequality creates toxic environment and reducing it is ‘a public health imperative’
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Important work on inequality changing children’s brain structure from @divyangana.bsky.social and colleagues.
Best ways to reduce inequality:
1. Fair pay agreements for every sector
2. Abolish two child benefit cap, for universal social security
3. Fair tax.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Best ways to reduce inequality:
1. Fair pay agreements for every sector
2. Abolish two child benefit cap, for universal social security
3. Fair tax.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
📢 We are hiring! 📢
For our @wellcometrust.bsky.social grant on information gathering biases in #OCD and #Schizophrenia, we are looking for a Postdoc in Computational Modelling, supervised by Peter Dayan and myself.
Interested? See all the details in the job advert here: devcompsy.org/wp-content/u...
For our @wellcometrust.bsky.social grant on information gathering biases in #OCD and #Schizophrenia, we are looking for a Postdoc in Computational Modelling, supervised by Peter Dayan and myself.
Interested? See all the details in the job advert here: devcompsy.org/wp-content/u...
a penguin is sticking his head out of a hole next to a job application
ALT: a penguin is sticking his head out of a hole next to a job application
media.tenor.com
August 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
📢 We are hiring! 📢
For our @wellcometrust.bsky.social grant on information gathering biases in #OCD and #Schizophrenia, we are looking for a Postdoc in Computational Modelling, supervised by Peter Dayan and myself.
Interested? See all the details in the job advert here: devcompsy.org/wp-content/u...
For our @wellcometrust.bsky.social grant on information gathering biases in #OCD and #Schizophrenia, we are looking for a Postdoc in Computational Modelling, supervised by Peter Dayan and myself.
Interested? See all the details in the job advert here: devcompsy.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
We’ve paved over everything and then wonder why people are anxious, angry, and disconnected.
Asphalt addiction is real and ample green space is the bare minimum for a healthy city.
Asphalt addiction is real and ample green space is the bare minimum for a healthy city.
Longitudinal associations between greenspace exposure, structural brain development, and mental health and academic performance during early adolescence
Greenspace exposure is associated with positive mental health and academic outcomes.
This preregistered longitudinal study examines whether the influence of greenspace
exposure on structural brain dev...
www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com
June 7, 2025 at 2:51 AM
We’ve paved over everything and then wonder why people are anxious, angry, and disconnected.
Asphalt addiction is real and ample green space is the bare minimum for a healthy city.
Asphalt addiction is real and ample green space is the bare minimum for a healthy city.
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
🚨 New preprint alert! 🚨
We used machine learning to examine how early life adversity ⚠️ is associated with the adolescent brain 🧠 in the ABCD Study across 7 adversity dimensions and 3 timepoints.
👉https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.11.659188v1
We used machine learning to examine how early life adversity ⚠️ is associated with the adolescent brain 🧠 in the ABCD Study across 7 adversity dimensions and 3 timepoints.
👉https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.11.659188v1
www.biorxiv.org
June 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
🚨 New preprint alert! 🚨
We used machine learning to examine how early life adversity ⚠️ is associated with the adolescent brain 🧠 in the ABCD Study across 7 adversity dimensions and 3 timepoints.
👉https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.11.659188v1
We used machine learning to examine how early life adversity ⚠️ is associated with the adolescent brain 🧠 in the ABCD Study across 7 adversity dimensions and 3 timepoints.
👉https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.11.659188v1
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
Check out our team's latest work on how early life adversity maps onto brain structure in youth, led by @kabro.bsky.social!
Details below ⬇️
Details below ⬇️
🚨 New preprint alert! 🚨
We used machine learning to examine how early life adversity ⚠️ is associated with the adolescent brain 🧠 in the ABCD Study across 7 adversity dimensions and 3 timepoints.
👉https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.11.659188v1
We used machine learning to examine how early life adversity ⚠️ is associated with the adolescent brain 🧠 in the ABCD Study across 7 adversity dimensions and 3 timepoints.
👉https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.11.659188v1
www.biorxiv.org
June 16, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Check out our team's latest work on how early life adversity maps onto brain structure in youth, led by @kabro.bsky.social!
Details below ⬇️
Details below ⬇️
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
PhD studentship available in developmental cognitive neuroscience, in Cambridge - please publicise.
Open to women candidates, as the student will be based at Newnham College.
Open to women candidates, as the student will be based at Newnham College.
Funded PhD opportunity with @sjblakemore.bsky.social and I, at Cambridge. We are looking for someone interested in developmental science, to start in the coming academic year. Please share it with anyone you think might be interested (see details attached 😁).
drive.google.com/file/d/1RIvg...
drive.google.com/file/d/1RIvg...
Funded PhD opportunity.pdf
drive.google.com
May 27, 2025 at 3:37 PM
PhD studentship available in developmental cognitive neuroscience, in Cambridge - please publicise.
Open to women candidates, as the student will be based at Newnham College.
Open to women candidates, as the student will be based at Newnham College.
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
*New preprint* on ND and co-occurring mental health problems from my lab, led by Chiara Caserini! Using longitudinal data from ABCD we asked: What drives poor mental health outcomes in children with high ND traits? Here's brief summary 🧠🌳🏡 www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1.... 1/n
Developmental pathways from childhood neurodevelopmental traits to early adolescent psychiatric dimensions: the role of environmental and lifestyle factors
Objectives: Transdiagnostic dimensional approaches have advanced our understanding of psychiatric comorbidity and developmental continuity, but have rarely been applied to investigate links between ne...
www.medrxiv.org
May 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM
*New preprint* on ND and co-occurring mental health problems from my lab, led by Chiara Caserini! Using longitudinal data from ABCD we asked: What drives poor mental health outcomes in children with high ND traits? Here's brief summary 🧠🌳🏡 www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1.... 1/n
"Although growing up in poverty carries many risks, some children defy the odds & demonstrate positive cognitive outcomes." This blog explores how to foster #Resilience in disadvantaged contexts.
Read the full blog here:
www.acamh.org/blog/why-do-...
Read the full blog here:
www.acamh.org/blog/why-do-...
Why do some children from low-income families manage to thrive cognitively?
Why do some children from low-income families manage to thrive cognitively? Our study sheds light on this question by identifying key factors that promote cognitive resilience.
www.acamh.org
April 28, 2025 at 3:55 PM
"Although growing up in poverty carries many risks, some children defy the odds & demonstrate positive cognitive outcomes." This blog explores how to foster #Resilience in disadvantaged contexts.
Read the full blog here:
www.acamh.org/blog/why-do-...
Read the full blog here:
www.acamh.org/blog/why-do-...
Excited to share our new paper where we show on links between #greenspace exposure, brain development over time, and mental health and academic outcomes, now published in Biological Psychiatry. Led by Qingyang Li!
@kingsioppn.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@kingsioppn.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
April 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Excited to share our new paper where we show on links between #greenspace exposure, brain development over time, and mental health and academic outcomes, now published in Biological Psychiatry. Led by Qingyang Li!
@kingsioppn.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@kingsioppn.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
Why are young girls, who begin puberty ahead of their same-age, same-sex peers, at an increased risk of depression and anxiety? Dr @divyangana.bsky.social outlines her research on this subject for the @bbrfoundation.bsky.social
#AcademicSky #PsychSky
bbrfoundation.org/content/chil...
#AcademicSky #PsychSky
bbrfoundation.org/content/chil...
Childhood Stress and Early Onset of Female Puberty May Raise Risk of Depression and Anxiety in Adolescence, Study Finds | Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
Being exposed to trauma during childhood has been associated with significantly increased risk for developing depression and anxiety later in life. Precisely how trauma translates into greater risk re...
bbrfoundation.org
April 23, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Why are young girls, who begin puberty ahead of their same-age, same-sex peers, at an increased risk of depression and anxiety? Dr @divyangana.bsky.social outlines her research on this subject for the @bbrfoundation.bsky.social
#AcademicSky #PsychSky
bbrfoundation.org/content/chil...
#AcademicSky #PsychSky
bbrfoundation.org/content/chil...
Check out our 🚨 Annual Research Review 🚨 published in JCPP on the mediators and moderators of the link between SES and cognitive function, language ability, and academic achievement (a systematic review of 136 studies):
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
<em>Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry</em> | ACAMH Pediatric Journal | Wiley Online Library
Low socioeconomic status (SES) is negatively associated with children's cognitive and academic performance, leading to long-term educational and economic disparities. In particular, SES is a powerful....
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
April 9, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Check out our 🚨 Annual Research Review 🚨 published in JCPP on the mediators and moderators of the link between SES and cognitive function, language ability, and academic achievement (a systematic review of 136 studies):
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
🚨 HIRING 🚨 a Postdoctoral Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience @kingsioppn.bsky.social
My group's research aims to understand how social and physical environments impact brain and behaviour development.
Application window closes in three days!
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLX655/p...
My group's research aims to understand how social and physical environments impact brain and behaviour development.
Application window closes in three days!
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLX655/p...
Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at King's College London
Recruiting now: Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board
www.jobs.ac.uk
March 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
🚨 HIRING 🚨 a Postdoctoral Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience @kingsioppn.bsky.social
My group's research aims to understand how social and physical environments impact brain and behaviour development.
Application window closes in three days!
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLX655/p...
My group's research aims to understand how social and physical environments impact brain and behaviour development.
Application window closes in three days!
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLX655/p...
🚨 HIRING 🚨 a Postdoctoal Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience @kingsioppn.bsky.social. My group's research aims to understand how social and physical environments impact brain and behaviour development.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLX655/p...
Accepting applications until the 15th of March!
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLX655/p...
Accepting applications until the 15th of March!
Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at King's College London
Discover an exciting academic career path as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at jobs.ac.uk. Don't miss out on this job opportunity - apply today!
www.jobs.ac.uk
March 7, 2025 at 12:37 PM
🚨 HIRING 🚨 a Postdoctoal Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience @kingsioppn.bsky.social. My group's research aims to understand how social and physical environments impact brain and behaviour development.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLX655/p...
Accepting applications until the 15th of March!
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLX655/p...
Accepting applications until the 15th of March!
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
🚨New paper out in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 🚨 In this pre-registered study, we examined the role of pubertal development in the association between trauma exposure and internalising symptoms in female youth using ABCD data:
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
<em>Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry</em> | ACAMH Pediatric Journal | Wiley Online Library
Background Exposure to trauma in childhood is associated with an increased risk for internalising symptoms. Alterations in pubertal development has been proposed as a potential mechanism underpinnin...
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
March 5, 2025 at 2:07 PM
🚨New paper out in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 🚨 In this pre-registered study, we examined the role of pubertal development in the association between trauma exposure and internalising symptoms in female youth using ABCD data:
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
POSTDOC POSITION at @kingsioppn.bsky.social
The postdoc will work on an @ukri.org funded project on disadvantage, the pace of neurodevelopment, and cognitive outcomes using openly available infant and adolescent data. See the job ad here: fluxsociety.org/postdoctoral...
Please share and repost 🙏
The postdoc will work on an @ukri.org funded project on disadvantage, the pace of neurodevelopment, and cognitive outcomes using openly available infant and adolescent data. See the job ad here: fluxsociety.org/postdoctoral...
Please share and repost 🙏
Postdoctoral Researcher in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience - Flux Society
fluxsociety.org
February 12, 2025 at 10:55 AM
POSTDOC POSITION at @kingsioppn.bsky.social
The postdoc will work on an @ukri.org funded project on disadvantage, the pace of neurodevelopment, and cognitive outcomes using openly available infant and adolescent data. See the job ad here: fluxsociety.org/postdoctoral...
Please share and repost 🙏
The postdoc will work on an @ukri.org funded project on disadvantage, the pace of neurodevelopment, and cognitive outcomes using openly available infant and adolescent data. See the job ad here: fluxsociety.org/postdoctoral...
Please share and repost 🙏
Reposted by Divyangana Rakesh
Congratulations to @divyangana.bsky.social, who has been named an @psychscience.bsky.social APS Rising Star, a designation presented to outstanding APS Members in the earlier stages of their research career whose innovative work has advanced the field!
Dr Rakesh's research:
Dr Rakesh's research:
Divyangana Rakesh
Lecturer in Neuroscience and Psychology
www.kcl.ac.uk
February 28, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Congratulations to @divyangana.bsky.social, who has been named an @psychscience.bsky.social APS Rising Star, a designation presented to outstanding APS Members in the earlier stages of their research career whose innovative work has advanced the field!
Dr Rakesh's research:
Dr Rakesh's research: