# Early Childhood Deprivation and Psychopathology: Identifying Neurodevelopmental Pathways of Risk

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $40,572

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Experiences of childhood adversity are common in the United States and account for a substantial proportion of
pediatric-onset psychopathology. Understanding mechanistic pathways that contribute to this heightened
psychopathology risk is, therefore, of critical consequence to public health. The Dimensional Model of Adversity
and Psychopathology (DMAP) proposes that adverse experiences characterized by deprivation (e.g., neglect)
may have distinct neurodevelopmental consequences in the frontoparietal network that confer risk for pediatric
psychopathology. While existing theory emphasizes the importance of early childhood experiences of deprivation
in shaping development in the frontoparietal network, existing neurodevelopmental research on childhood
adversity is primarily cross-sectional and has focused almost exclusively on neural and mental health outcomes
in adolescent samples. In two highly related pediatric neuroimaging samples with rich assessment of early
childhood adversity exposure and psychopathology (Sample 1: R01MH115004; Sample 2: R01MH120314), we
seek to address these gaps in the literature and Goal 2 of the NIMH strategic plan by identifying
neurodevelopmental pathways linking deprivation with transdiagnostic psychopathology risk first in early
childhood and then longitudinally from early childhood through adolescence. The proposed study will first
examine concurrent associations of deprivation with altered frontoparietal network activation during cognitive
control (Aim 1). We hypothesize that deprivation will be associated with worse cognitive control performance and
reduced activation in the frontoparietal network (Sample 1). Next, we will characterize early childhood
deprivation-related alterations to trajectories of cortical structure in the frontoparietal control network (Aim 2). We
hypothesize that deprivation will be associated with blunted intra-individual longitudinal trajectories of cortical
thinning in the frontoparietal network (Sample 2). Finally, we will examine deprivation-related alterations to brain
function and structural development as potential mechanisms contributing to childhood and adolescent
psychopathology (Aim 3). We hypothesize that decreased activation in the frontoparietal network during cognitive
control will mediate the association of early childhood deprivation with concurrent psychopathology (Sample 1).
Furthermore, we predict that altered longitudinal trajectories of cortical structure in the frontoparietal control
network will mediate the association of early childhood deprivation with adolescent psychopathology. Training
aims include advanced training in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis, longitudinal modeling
of neuroimaging data, and latent modeling of pediatric psychopathology. The applicant’s training will be
supported by her sponsor’s and consultants’ expertise in these areas and extensive institutional resources.
Findings will have implications fo...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11070652
- **Project number:** 1F31MH136728-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Lucy Lurie
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $40,572
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11070652

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11070652, Early Childhood Deprivation and Psychopathology: Identifying Neurodevelopmental Pathways of Risk (1F31MH136728-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11070652. Licensed CC0.

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