Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Investigating cortical microstructure in early infancy: Associations with later temperamental negative affectivity and psychopathology symptoms

Award Number: F31MH140391
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 11/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2027

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Investigating cortical microstructure in early infancy: Associations with later temperamental negative affectivity and psychopathology symptoms - PROJECT SUMMARY Negative affectivity (NA) is an individual difference trait with high levels characterized by frequent and intense negative emotional responses such as fear, sadness, and frustration. NA can be reliably assessed within the first months of life; infants high in NA are at an increased risk for developing anxiety and depression later in life. Identifying the neural correlates of NA in early infancy—prior to the onset of psychopathology symptoms— can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying emotional functioning in early development and inform early interventions. Previous research has established links between macrostructural gray matter (GM) variations and behavioral phenotypes associated with NA. However, these approaches lack the specificity needed to understand the underlying neurodevelopmental processes. Cortical microstructure, indexed by the Neurite Density Index (NDI) and the Orientation Dispersion Index (ODI), reflects cortical myeloarchitecture and cytoarchitecture, offering a more detailed view of neurodevelopment. Additionally, in human adults, behavioral phenotypes linked to NA, such as anxiety and depression, are characterized by hyperactivity in the arousal/salience systems and/or hypoactivity in the regulation systems. Importantly, emerging evidence suggests that some of the dysfunctions in arousal/salience and regulation systems are present at birth, before the onset of symptoms, and are linked to NA in early infancy. Given that brain structurual integrity is fundamental to supporting functioning, it is plausible that dysfunction in arousal/salience and regulation systems is driven by structural substrates in cortical microstructure. Thus, we will examine associations between cortical microstructure and prospective NA and psychopathology symptoms from a network perspective, specifically focusing on the arousal/salience systems (ventral attention network [VAN] and cingulo-opercular network [CON] and top-down regulation systems (default mode network [DMN] and frontoparietal network [FPN]). Our central hypothesis is that higher microstructural indices in VAN/CON and lower indices in DMN/FPN shortly after birth would be associated with higher levels of NA later in infancy and psychopathology symptoms in toddlerhood. This project will fill a critical gap in the developmental neuroscience literature by mapping the associations between cortical microstructure in early infancy and later NA and psychopathology symptoms. Through this project, the candidate will develop valuable expertise in early manifestations of psychopathology, neuroimaging data processing and computational skills, clinical neuroscience, and advanced writing and presentation skills. Obtaining such training will position the candidate as a competitive postdoctoral researcher and eventually an independent investigator at a research university, significantly contributing to mapping affective neurodevelopmental risk for psychopathology.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $53,114 )
2026	2026	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY	110 21ST AVE S	NASHVILLE	TN	37203	DAVIDSON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	4/6/2026	NEW	$53,114
														Subtotal = $53,114

Grand Total All Awards = $53,114

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Investigating cortical microstructure in early infancy: Associations with later temperamental negative affectivity and psychopathology symptoms

Award Number: F31MH140391

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 11/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2027

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer