This study shows that childhood socioeconomic status and polygenic scores for cognition independently affect cognitive performance in children, with no interaction between the two factors.

medRxiv · Aug 26, 2021 · PreprintGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Convergent evidence for predispositonal effects of brain volume on alcohol consumption

David A. A. Baranger, Catherine H. Demers, Nourhan M. Elsayed, Annchen R. Knodt, Spenser R. Radtke, Aline Desmarais, Lauren R. Few, Arpana Agrawal A, Andrew C. Heath, Deanna M. Barch, Lindsay M. Squeglia, Douglas E. Williamson, Ahmad R. Hariri, Ryan Bogdan

The paper identifies smaller brain volumes in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and insula as predispositional risk factors for alcohol use, supported by genetic and longitudinal evidence.

Biological Psychiatry · Sep 13, 2019Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Paradoxical Associations Between Familial Affective Responsiveness, Stress, and Amygdala Reactivity

Madeline J. Farber, Adrienne L. Romer, M. Justin Kim, Annchen R. Knodt, Nourhan M. Elsayed, Douglas E. Williamson, Ahmad R. Hariri

The paper examines how subtle variations in caregiving, specifically familial affective responsiveness, influence amygdala reactivity to interpersonal threat in adolescents, revealing paradoxical associations with stress levels.

Emotion · Jul 12, 2018Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Trajectories of Alcohol Use Initiation and Risk to Develop an Alcohol Use Disorder During Adolescence: A Role for Stress and Amygdala Activity

Nourhan M. Elsayed, M. Justin Kim, Kristina M. Fields, Rene Luis Olvera, Ahmad R. Hariri, Douglas E. Williamson

The paper identifies two trajectories of alcohol use initiation in adolescents and links early initiation to increased risk of AUD, stress, and amygdala reactivity.

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · Jun 18, 2018Peer-reviewedNeuroscience