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Reposted by Duncan Astle

olafhauk.bsky.social @olafhauk.bsky.social · 15d

Now it's the @mrccbu.bsky.social's @duncanastle.bsky.social's turn to excite our #COGNESTIC audience. No problem when you are "Building networks to understand neurodevelopment".

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jul 25

*New Paper* How genes for IQ shape brain organisation. Amazing work led by Alicja Monaghan @mrccbu.bsky.social reveals 2 ways. First, they’re associated w/ the ‘costs’ of network formation. Second, they define ‘high value’ areas within the network. How she did it…🧵
doi.org/10.1162/IMAG...

Brain wiring economics, network organisation and population-level genomics

Abstract. What role do our genes play in shaping the structural organisation of the living human brain? Across a sample of 2,153 children (9–11 years old), we address this question, focusing on common...

doi.org

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Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jul 25

Want the details? Check out the open access paper. Thanks to funders MRC, @templetonworld.bsky.social,
and supporters @camneuro.bsky.social, @mrccbu.bsky.social, and @4dlab.bsky.social

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Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jul 25

These genes in particular seems to be responsible for cellular and biological processes involved in synapse development and transmitter and anion-gated channel activity.

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Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jul 25

Second, she used transcription data from the
@alleninstitute.org, and found that the genes in the PGS particularly overlap with the regional distribution of the ‘values’ part of the GNM – that is they define the areas the model wants to connect.

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Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jul 25

Those with *high* polygenic scores (PGS) for cognitive ability had a *softer* ‘distance penalty’ in their GNM. The end result is that networks form slightly more ‘shortest paths’. The end result? Slightly more stochastic, variable and efficient brain networks.

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Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jul 25

First, she built connectomes from ~2k 10yr olds from ABCD. To each she fit a generative network model (GNM) – a simple computational model for simulating their topology.

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Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jul 25

*New Paper* How genes for IQ shape brain organisation. Amazing work led by Alicja Monaghan @mrccbu.bsky.social reveals 2 ways. First, they’re associated w/ the ‘costs’ of network formation. Second, they define ‘high value’ areas within the network. How she did it…🧵
doi.org/10.1162/IMAG...

Brain wiring economics, network organisation and population-level genomics

Abstract. What role do our genes play in shaping the structural organisation of the living human brain? Across a sample of 2,153 children (9–11 years old), we address this question, focusing on common...

doi.org

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Prof Sarah-Jayne Blakemore @sjblakemore.bsky.social · Jul 22

Deadline for this funded PhD to work with me and @duncanastle.bsky.social is soon! 26 July.

The student must be a woman (because it’s based at Newnham College) and eligible for UK home fees.

Cambridge Psychology Department @campsydept.bsky.social · Jun 27

🚨 Funded PhD @mrccbu.bsky.social!

Work with top minds — @duncanastle.bsky.social & @sjblakemore.bsky.social on the impact of #developmental differences on #education!🧠📚

A month to apply ⏰
For details see👇
🔗 drive.google.com/file/d/1RIvg...
Newnham-based 👩‍🎓💅
#psychology #cambridge #research

drive.google.com

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Damien Fair @drdamienfair.bsky.social · Jun 29

Alert! ... for the child development world!

@fluxsociety.bsky.social @fitngin.bsky.social ‪

The Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study has released its first data wave - it’s massive.

Check here:
docs.hbcdstudy.org

and here:
nbdc-datahub.org

Here’s why it matters 🧠🍼

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Loic Menzies @loicmnzs.bsky.social · Jun 25

Absolute honour to chair this panel of superstars @royalsociety.org yesterday, including @duncanastle.bsky.social & @tamsinford.bsky.social

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Imaging Neuroscience @imagingneurosci.bsky.social · Jun 11

New paper in Imaging Neuroscience by Alicja Monaghan, Danyal Akarca, and Duncan E. Astle:

Brain wiring economics, network organisation and population-level genomics

doi.org/10.1162/IMAG...

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Prof Sarah-Jayne Blakemore @sjblakemore.bsky.social · Jun 10

PhD studentship at Cambridge!
Closing date for applications: 26/07/25
You need to be a woman and eligible for UK home fees.
And interested in doing a PhD in developmental cognitive neuroscience and education, based in Cambridge, UK (not hybrid/remote)

Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · May 27

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...

Funded PhD opportunity.pdf

drive.google.com

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Amin Saberi @amnsbr.bsky.social · Jun 5

🧠⚖️📉 How does the cortical excitation-inhibition ratio mature during adolescence?
We asked this in our new paper just out in #ScienceAdvances ✨
“Adolescent maturation of cortical excitation-inhibition ratio based on individualized biophysical network modeling”
📄 www.science.org/doi/full/10....
🧵⤵️

Adolescent maturation of cortical excitation-inhibition ratio based on individualized biophysical network modeling

Individualized simulations reveal a decrease in excitation-inhibition ratio in association areas throughout adolescence.

www.science.org

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

aejbowen.bsky.social @aejbowen.bsky.social · May 29

Opportunity to do a PhD in developmental science alongside some absolutely fantastic scientists!! Share widely!

Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · May 27

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...

Funded PhD opportunity.pdf

drive.google.com

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Giacomo Bignardi @bignardi.bsky.social · May 27

Amazing funded phd opportunity with great supervisors👇👇👇👇👇

Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · May 27

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...

Funded PhD opportunity.pdf

drive.google.com

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Stuart Oldham @stuartoldham.bsky.social · May 28

Do you like brain network hubs?🧠🌐✳️Do you like genes?🧬What about neurodevelopment?👶What if I told you the latest work by @garedaba.bsky.social and myself combined all of these?🤯🤯🤯

See Gareth's thread for a primer of our findings, then read the paper for the details!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Francesco Poli @francescopoli.bsky.social · May 27

This is a really cool project! Please repost to anyone interested at the intersection between developmental cognitive neuroscience and education!

Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · May 27

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...

Funded PhD opportunity.pdf

drive.google.com

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Prof Sarah-Jayne Blakemore @sjblakemore.bsky.social · May 27

PhD studentship available in developmental cognitive neuroscience, in Cambridge - please publicise.

Open to women candidates, as the student will be based at Newnham College.

Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · May 27

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...

Funded PhD opportunity.pdf

drive.google.com

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Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · May 27

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...

Funded PhD opportunity.pdf

drive.google.com

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Rebeca Ianov @rebecaianov.bsky.social · May 13

New study out now (doi.org/10.1111/ejn....)! Modelling MEG dynamics with RNNs reveals how reduced inhibition may shape neural signatures in ZDHHC9-linked neurodivergence!🧠🧬
Thanks to all co-authors! @achterbrain.bsky.social @danakarca.bsky.social @kbgenesbrains.bsky.social @duncanastle.bsky.social

Synaptic Function and Sensory Processing in ZDHHC9‐Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorder: A Mechanistic Account

In the current study, we employed a bottom-up approach to study the impact of synaptic-level alterations associated with ZDHHC9 variants on cortical function in healthy and ZDHHC9-deficient participa...

doi.org

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jan 10

We are hiring! We're looking for a great project manager to help with a large-scale Wellcome funded study. If you know of anyone that this might appeal to, please share.

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/49880/

Project Manager (Part Time, Fixed Term) - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge

Project Manager (Part Time, Fixed Term) in the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge.

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk

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Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jan 10

We are hiring! We're looking for a great project manager to help with a large-scale Wellcome funded study. If you know of anyone that this might appeal to, please share.

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/49880/

Project Manager (Part Time, Fixed Term) - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge

Project Manager (Part Time, Fixed Term) in the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge.

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk

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Reposted by Duncan Astle

Estherina Trachtenberg @estherina.bsky.social · Jan 2

New year, a new chapter 🎇.
I am super excited to begin my postdoctoral fellowship at the @mrccbu.bsky.social with @duncanastle.bsky.social 's incredible 4D group, where I'll continue studying aspects of how the social environment affects brain networks and health 🧠 🧑‍🔬🧪 #posdoc #Cambridge_Uni

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Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Dec 14

Incredible visit to Wimpole Hall Christmas lights. Genuinely magical.
@nationaltrust.bsky.social

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