SPS BSI Webinar: The Joys and Challenges of MRI Data Collection in Infants and Pregnant Individuals
Date: 30 May 2025
Time: 1:00 PM ET (New York Time)
Presenter(s): Dr. Kathryn Leigh Humphreys
Meeting information:
Meeting number: 2862 698 9467
Password: BmgSdxq73K7 (26473977 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by phone:
+1-415-655-0002 US Toll
Access code: 286 269 89467
https://gsumeetings.webex.com/gsumeetings/j.php?MTID=m15903c06a88795b723241e0a56d3b5eb
Join us 30 May 2025, at 1:00 PM ET for an exciting virtual talk by Dr. Kathryn Leigh Humphreys entitled: : “The Joys and Challenges of MRI Data Collection in Infants and Pregnant Individuals” as part of the activities of the Brain Space Initiative, co-sponsored by the Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS) and the Data Science Initiative, IEEE Signal Processing Society.
Abstract
The Joys and Challenges of MRI Data Collection in Infants and Pregnant Individuals
This presentation examines the practical aspects and scientific value of conducting MRI studies during periods of rapid brain development—specifically infancy and pregnancy. Drawing from our work in the Stress and Early Adversity Lab and my role co-leading the scanning young populations group for the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HBCD), I will discuss effective protocols for these specialized populations. The talk will cover essential logistical considerations, including optimal team composition and roles during scanning sessions, and strategies for building meaningful relationships with participants to enhance both recruitment and retention. I will share our approach to participant incentives—financial compensation, transportation assistance, childcare provision, refreshments, take-home items such as 3D printed brain models—and how these contribute to successful data collection. Safety considerations specific to pregnant individuals and infants will be addressed, alongside techniques for motion mitigation and participant comfort. The presentation will highlight how these methodological approaches have supported the collection of valuable developmental neuroimaging data across both single-site studies and the large-scale, 26-site HBCD consortium that aims to follow 7,500 children from the prenatal period through age 10.
Biography
Dr. Kathryn Humphreys is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Human Development and Chancellor Faculty Fellow at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Humphreys is widely recognized as an international leader in examining the impact of adverse experiences on child development, with a dedicated goal of improving children's lives. A clinical psychologist by training, Dr. Humphreys received postdoctoral training in infant mental health and developmental neuroscience. Her research explores the mechanisms through which early experiences shape developmental trajectories. She has received numerous grants to support her research, with current support from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Dr. Humphreys has authored nearly 200 publications and book chapters and has been recognized with several awards, including the Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions from Association for Psychological Science and the Boyd McCandless Award from American Psychological Association, reflecting her significant contributions to the field of developmental and clinical psychology.
Recommended Articles:
- Niu, Yanbin, et al. “Longitudinal investigation of neurobiological changes across pregnancy.” Communications Biology 8.1 (2025): 82. (Link to Paper).
- Humphreys, Kathryn L., and Autumn Kujawa. “Are brains rewired for caring during pregnancy? Why the jury's out.” Nature 632.8026 (2024): 739-739. (Link to Paper).
- Dean III, Douglas C., et al. “Quantifying brain development in the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study: The magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy protocol.” Developmental cognitive neuroscience 70 (2024): 101452. (Link to Paper)
