Modality-level obstacles and initiatives to improve representation in fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research samples

Fetal, infant, and toddler (FIT) neuroimaging researchers study early brain development to gain insights into neurodevelopmental processes and identify early markers of neurobiological vulnerabilities to target for intervention. However, the field has historically excluded people from global majorit...

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Main Authors: Emma T. Margolis, Paige M. Nelson, Abigail Fiske, Juliette L.Y. Champaud, Halie A. Olson, María José C. Gomez, Áine T. Dineen, Chiara Bulgarelli, Sonya V. Troller-Renfree, Kirsten A. Donald, Marisa N. Spann, Brittany Howell, Dustin Scheinost, Marta Korom
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187892932400166X
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author Emma T. Margolis
Paige M. Nelson
Abigail Fiske
Juliette L.Y. Champaud
Halie A. Olson
María José C. Gomez
Áine T. Dineen
Chiara Bulgarelli
Sonya V. Troller-Renfree
Kirsten A. Donald
Marisa N. Spann
Brittany Howell
Dustin Scheinost
Marta Korom
author_facet Emma T. Margolis
Paige M. Nelson
Abigail Fiske
Juliette L.Y. Champaud
Halie A. Olson
María José C. Gomez
Áine T. Dineen
Chiara Bulgarelli
Sonya V. Troller-Renfree
Kirsten A. Donald
Marisa N. Spann
Brittany Howell
Dustin Scheinost
Marta Korom
author_sort Emma T. Margolis
collection DOAJ
description Fetal, infant, and toddler (FIT) neuroimaging researchers study early brain development to gain insights into neurodevelopmental processes and identify early markers of neurobiological vulnerabilities to target for intervention. However, the field has historically excluded people from global majority countries and from marginalized communities in FIT neuroimaging research. Inclusive and representative samples are essential for generalizing findings across neuroimaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging, magnetoencephalography, electroencephalography, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and cranial ultrasonography. These FIT neuroimaging techniques pose unique and overlapping challenges to equitable representation in research through sampling bias, technical constraints, limited accessibility, and insufficient resources. The present article adds to the conversation around the need to improve inclusivity by highlighting modality-specific historical and current obstacles and ongoing initiatives. We conclude by discussing tangible solutions that transcend individual modalities, ultimately providing recommendations to promote equitable FIT neuroscience.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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series Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
spelling doaj-art-76ad5704ec6e4ba3b528cd95d690ee582025-08-20T02:47:36ZengElsevierDevelopmental Cognitive Neuroscience1878-92932025-04-017210150510.1016/j.dcn.2024.101505Modality-level obstacles and initiatives to improve representation in fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research samplesEmma T. Margolis0Paige M. Nelson1Abigail Fiske2Juliette L.Y. Champaud3Halie A. Olson4María José C. Gomez5Áine T. Dineen6Chiara Bulgarelli7Sonya V. Troller-Renfree8Kirsten A. Donald9Marisa N. Spann10Brittany Howell11Dustin Scheinost12Marta Korom13Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USADepartment of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USADepartment of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UKDepartment of Neuroscience, Psychology and Pharmacology, University College London, UK; Centre for the Developing Brain, King’s College London, UKMcGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USAResearch Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal QC, CanadaTrinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UKDepartment of Human Development, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, United StatesDivision of Developmental Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town; The Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USAFralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA; Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USADepartment of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Statistics & Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United StatesSection on Development and Affective Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Corresponding author.Fetal, infant, and toddler (FIT) neuroimaging researchers study early brain development to gain insights into neurodevelopmental processes and identify early markers of neurobiological vulnerabilities to target for intervention. However, the field has historically excluded people from global majority countries and from marginalized communities in FIT neuroimaging research. Inclusive and representative samples are essential for generalizing findings across neuroimaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging, magnetoencephalography, electroencephalography, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and cranial ultrasonography. These FIT neuroimaging techniques pose unique and overlapping challenges to equitable representation in research through sampling bias, technical constraints, limited accessibility, and insufficient resources. The present article adds to the conversation around the need to improve inclusivity by highlighting modality-specific historical and current obstacles and ongoing initiatives. We conclude by discussing tangible solutions that transcend individual modalities, ultimately providing recommendations to promote equitable FIT neuroscience.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187892932400166XFetal, infant, toddlerNeuroimagingBrain developmentDiversityInclusive representationRecruitment
spellingShingle Emma T. Margolis
Paige M. Nelson
Abigail Fiske
Juliette L.Y. Champaud
Halie A. Olson
María José C. Gomez
Áine T. Dineen
Chiara Bulgarelli
Sonya V. Troller-Renfree
Kirsten A. Donald
Marisa N. Spann
Brittany Howell
Dustin Scheinost
Marta Korom
Modality-level obstacles and initiatives to improve representation in fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research samples
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Fetal, infant, toddler
Neuroimaging
Brain development
Diversity
Inclusive representation
Recruitment
title Modality-level obstacles and initiatives to improve representation in fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research samples
title_full Modality-level obstacles and initiatives to improve representation in fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research samples
title_fullStr Modality-level obstacles and initiatives to improve representation in fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research samples
title_full_unstemmed Modality-level obstacles and initiatives to improve representation in fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research samples
title_short Modality-level obstacles and initiatives to improve representation in fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research samples
title_sort modality level obstacles and initiatives to improve representation in fetal infant and toddler neuroimaging research samples
topic Fetal, infant, toddler
Neuroimaging
Brain development
Diversity
Inclusive representation
Recruitment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187892932400166X
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