Towards a more inclusive and equitable developmental cognitive neuroscience

Area of Science:

• Developmental neuroscience
• Cognitive development
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Brain and cognitive development is crucial for child well-being.
• Large-scale longitudinal neuroimaging studies, like the HEALthy Brain and Cognitive Development (HBCD) Study, are vital for advancing understanding of brain structure and function during development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the scientific potential and limitations of the HBCD Study data.
• To caution against the misuse of HBCD data for scientifically questionable narratives, particularly concerning marginalized communities.
• To establish a framework for interpreting HBCD data considering sampling, cultural context, measurement, and developmental theory.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the scientific potential and limitations of the HBCD Study.
• Development of an interpretive framework for HBCD data.
• Focus on sampling, cultural context, measurement, and developmental science theory.

Main Results:

• HBCD data offer significant opportunities for understanding child brain development.
• Potential for misuse of data exists, especially when de-contextualized and applied to marginalized populations.
• A framework is proposed to guide responsible interpretation of HBCD data.

Conclusions:

• The HBCD Study is a valuable resource for developmental science.
• Responsible data interpretation requires careful consideration of context, sampling, and measurement.
• There is a need to revise developmental science practices to avoid perpetuating systemic injustice through data interpretation.