Arielle Keller
@ariellekeller.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience | UConn Psych Sciences | attention, cognition, mental health, development, environment, personalized neuroscience
arielleskeller.wixsite.com/attention
appliedcognitionlab.psychology.uconn.edu
opinions my own
arielleskeller.wixsite.com/attention
appliedcognitionlab.psychology.uconn.edu
opinions my own
But how does this “exposome network” relate to important developmental outcomes, like cognitive functioning? We found that variation in the exposome network across kids was associated with variation in cognitive task performance across multiple domains of cognition. /8
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
But how does this “exposome network” relate to important developmental outcomes, like cognitive functioning? We found that variation in the exposome network across kids was associated with variation in cognitive task performance across multiple domains of cognition. /8
Using cross-validation, we found consistent results across subgroups of children. This means we can tell what a child’s environment might be like just by looking at the functional connections in their brain! Our predictions were most accurate in cities with greater variability in the exposome. /7
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Using cross-validation, we found consistent results across subgroups of children. This means we can tell what a child’s environment might be like just by looking at the functional connections in their brain! Our predictions were most accurate in cities with greater variability in the exposome. /7
This “general exposome network” was robust – we found similar brain regions were included in this network across different scans, when the participants were performing different cognitive tasks or resting quietly. /6
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
This “general exposome network” was robust – we found similar brain regions were included in this network across different scans, when the participants were performing different cognitive tasks or resting quietly. /6
This procedure helped us identify a consistent “general exposome network” in the child brain, which drew its connections from many large-scale brain networks involved in a variety of functions. /5
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
This procedure helped us identify a consistent “general exposome network” in the child brain, which drew its connections from many large-scale brain networks involved in a variety of functions. /5
We then looked at how these functional connections related to a previously-defined “exposome” score for each child, reflecting variation in 354 environmental features that included child-reports, parent-reports, and geocoded data from the child’s home address. /4
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
We then looked at how these functional connections related to a previously-defined “exposome” score for each child, reflecting variation in 354 environmental features that included child-reports, parent-reports, and geocoded data from the child’s home address. /4
To test this, we identified functional connections across the entire brain from MRI scans in thousands of children. These brain scans were taken during cognitive task performance as well as during quiet rest, as part of the large-scale Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. /3
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
To test this, we identified functional connections across the entire brain from MRI scans in thousands of children. These brain scans were taken during cognitive task performance as well as during quiet rest, as part of the large-scale Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. /3
Our previous work showed that the exposome is reflected in the spatial organization of functionally-interconnected brain networks and variation in cognition. But how does variation in the functional connections themselves may reflect the external environment? /2
tinyurl.com/exposomeTopography
tinyurl.com/exposomeTopography
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Our previous work showed that the exposome is reflected in the spatial organization of functionally-interconnected brain networks and variation in cognition. But how does variation in the functional connections themselves may reflect the external environment? /2
tinyurl.com/exposomeTopography
tinyurl.com/exposomeTopography
Our environments consist of many co-occurring features: physical/chemical exposures, psychosocial experiences, socioeconomic resources, and sociocultural context. All these features collectively (the “exposome”) may shape child brain development and cognition – but how? /1
tinyurl.com/exposomeReview
tinyurl.com/exposomeReview
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Our environments consist of many co-occurring features: physical/chemical exposures, psychosocial experiences, socioeconomic resources, and sociocultural context. All these features collectively (the “exposome”) may shape child brain development and cognition – but how? /1
tinyurl.com/exposomeReview
tinyurl.com/exposomeReview
Happy New Preprint Friday!* Thrilled to share new results in collab with Sarah Lichenstein & @yiplab.bsky.social showing our brain's functional connections reflect the environments we grow up in!
tinyurl.com/exposomeConnectivity
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #DevPsy #cognition
*can this be a thing??
tinyurl.com/exposomeConnectivity
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #DevPsy #cognition
*can this be a thing??
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Happy New Preprint Friday!* Thrilled to share new results in collab with Sarah Lichenstein & @yiplab.bsky.social showing our brain's functional connections reflect the environments we grow up in!
tinyurl.com/exposomeConnectivity
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #DevPsy #cognition
*can this be a thing??
tinyurl.com/exposomeConnectivity
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #DevPsy #cognition
*can this be a thing??
Amazing first day at #Flux2025 featuring an all-star team discussing the last 10 years (and future 10 years!) of ABCD & an inspiring conversation about bridging the lab and real life 🧠🤩
@lucinauddin.bsky.social @dbarch.bsky.social @tervoclemmensb.bsky.social @fluxsociety.bsky.social
@lucinauddin.bsky.social @dbarch.bsky.social @tervoclemmensb.bsky.social @fluxsociety.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Amazing first day at #Flux2025 featuring an all-star team discussing the last 10 years (and future 10 years!) of ABCD & an inspiring conversation about bridging the lab and real life 🧠🤩
@lucinauddin.bsky.social @dbarch.bsky.social @tervoclemmensb.bsky.social @fluxsociety.bsky.social
@lucinauddin.bsky.social @dbarch.bsky.social @tervoclemmensb.bsky.social @fluxsociety.bsky.social
Our review summarizes key takeaways from this growing field, with a particular focus on how the exposome shapes cognitive neurodevelopment. We discuss findings from three broad domains of the exposome: physical/chemical exposures, psychosocial experiences, and external environmental contexts. /5
August 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Our review summarizes key takeaways from this growing field, with a particular focus on how the exposome shapes cognitive neurodevelopment. We discuss findings from three broad domains of the exposome: physical/chemical exposures, psychosocial experiences, and external environmental contexts. /5
We had the best time engaging with everyone today at the #SOBP2025 Fireside Chat on Inclusive Teaching and Mentoring! Thank you all for coming out and participating with us! 😊🎉
April 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
We had the best time engaging with everyone today at the #SOBP2025 Fireside Chat on Inclusive Teaching and Mentoring! Thank you all for coming out and participating with us! 😊🎉
For those attending #SOBP2025 in Toronto next week:
don't miss out on this year's awesome Fireside Chats! 🧠🎉🍁
#neuroskyence #psychology #ClinicalPsych #psychiatry
#psychiatryresearch
don't miss out on this year's awesome Fireside Chats! 🧠🎉🍁
#neuroskyence #psychology #ClinicalPsych #psychiatry
#psychiatryresearch
April 17, 2025 at 4:19 PM
For those attending #SOBP2025 in Toronto next week:
don't miss out on this year's awesome Fireside Chats! 🧠🎉🍁
#neuroskyence #psychology #ClinicalPsych #psychiatry
#psychiatryresearch
don't miss out on this year's awesome Fireside Chats! 🧠🎉🍁
#neuroskyence #psychology #ClinicalPsych #psychiatry
#psychiatryresearch
March 7, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Had the most incredible opportunity yesterday to speak at my alma mater @brandeisuniversity.bsky.social and catch up with friends/colleagues! So grateful to @rsek.bsky.social for the mentorship and support since my freshman year of undergrad, introducing me to the exciting world of neuroscience! 🥰
December 6, 2024 at 3:07 PM
Had the most incredible opportunity yesterday to speak at my alma mater @brandeisuniversity.bsky.social and catch up with friends/colleagues! So grateful to @rsek.bsky.social for the mentorship and support since my freshman year of undergrad, introducing me to the exciting world of neuroscience! 🥰
❗Our cyclical models also revealed pervasive, unreported biases in participant recruitment for large-scale studies of human behavior: namely, that multiple studies showed disproportionate recruitment of research participants from households with low socio-economic status during the summer months. /8
November 21, 2024 at 3:15 PM
❗Our cyclical models also revealed pervasive, unreported biases in participant recruitment for large-scale studies of human behavior: namely, that multiple studies showed disproportionate recruitment of research participants from households with low socio-economic status during the summer months. /8
We also find evidence that the summer slide effect is specific to school-age children, not present in young adults (young adults show a non-significant dip after the winter holidays). It also does not vary by psychiatric diagnosis (ADHD) or socioeconomic status. /6
November 21, 2024 at 3:15 PM
We also find evidence that the summer slide effect is specific to school-age children, not present in young adults (young adults show a non-significant dip after the winter holidays). It also does not vary by psychiatric diagnosis (ADHD) or socioeconomic status. /6
The summer slide effect replicated across diverse demographics, cognitive assessments, and geographic locations, including both the United States and Singapore which are opposite in their timing of school vacation, underscoring the ubiquitous nature of this effect. /5
November 21, 2024 at 3:15 PM
The summer slide effect replicated across diverse demographics, cognitive assessments, and geographic locations, including both the United States and Singapore which are opposite in their timing of school vacation, underscoring the ubiquitous nature of this effect. /5
We find a replicable summer slide across 4 datasets spanning a wide range of participant demographics and geographic locations. To our surprise, this effect is present across standardized laboratory-based cognitive assessments, so the slide isn’t just “forgetting” of learned academic material. /4
November 21, 2024 at 3:15 PM
We find a replicable summer slide across 4 datasets spanning a wide range of participant demographics and geographic locations. To our surprise, this effect is present across standardized laboratory-based cognitive assessments, so the slide isn’t just “forgetting” of learned academic material. /4
Most studies measure behavior over time using linear models, but these might mask important cyclical patterns (e.g., time-of-day, day-of-week, or month-of-year). We use generalized additive models with cyclical smoothing splines to uncover cyclical fluctuations in youth cognition by day of year. /2
November 21, 2024 at 3:15 PM
Most studies measure behavior over time using linear models, but these might mask important cyclical patterns (e.g., time-of-day, day-of-week, or month-of-year). We use generalized additive models with cyclical smoothing splines to uncover cyclical fluctuations in youth cognition by day of year. /2
☀️ New preprint! ☀️ Cognitive tests from 23,000+ participants in 4 datasets show cyclical fluctuations across the calendar year, including a small but replicable “summer slide” where youth show worst performance after school vacation. t.ly/OMzgl
#PsychSciSky #CogPsyc #CogDev #devpsy #CogSci
Thread /1
#PsychSciSky #CogPsyc #CogDev #devpsy #CogSci
Thread /1
November 21, 2024 at 3:15 PM
☀️ New preprint! ☀️ Cognitive tests from 23,000+ participants in 4 datasets show cyclical fluctuations across the calendar year, including a small but replicable “summer slide” where youth show worst performance after school vacation. t.ly/OMzgl
#PsychSciSky #CogPsyc #CogDev #devpsy #CogSci
Thread /1
#PsychSciSky #CogPsyc #CogDev #devpsy #CogSci
Thread /1
In fact, we found many of the exact same top-ten X-chr. genes as in prior work, so this effect is robust across samples with totally different age ranges, socio-demographics & locations. (for my fellow neuro neurds: a lot of these were astrocytic and excitatory neuron genes!) /9
October 13, 2024 at 10:43 PM
In fact, we found many of the exact same top-ten X-chr. genes as in prior work, so this effect is robust across samples with totally different age ranges, socio-demographics & locations. (for my fellow neuro neurds: a lot of these were astrocytic and excitatory neuron genes!) /9
Taking genetic data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas, we found that patterns of X-chromosome gene expression across the brain were aligned with our observed sex differences in functional brain network organization! /8
October 13, 2024 at 10:42 PM
Taking genetic data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas, we found that patterns of X-chromosome gene expression across the brain were aligned with our observed sex differences in functional brain network organization! /8
These associations were strong enough that we could very accurately guess a new participant’s sex assigned at birth just by looking at their unique patterns of brain network organization! (for my fellow ML nerds: we used support vector machines w/nested 2-fold cross-val.). /7
October 13, 2024 at 10:42 PM
These associations were strong enough that we could very accurately guess a new participant’s sex assigned at birth just by looking at their unique patterns of brain network organization! (for my fellow ML nerds: we used support vector machines w/nested 2-fold cross-val.). /7