Duncan Astle
@DuncanAstle
Neuroscientist, psychologist, European and blogger based in Cambridge, UK. Interested in cognition, the brain and education. Tweets are my views. He/him/his.
V. excited by this in @TrendsCognSci. A long time in the writing, w/ Mark Johnson and @DanAkarca. Can computational models tell us something fundamental about cognitive and brain development? We think so. We term it "computational neuroconstructivism". doi.org/10.1016/j.tics…
How do early life social environments impact white matter brain connections and subsequent cognitive abilities? Was fun working on this exciting project led by Sofia Carozza, @AmarDhand @DuncanAstle @Braindoc_MGH @harvardmed @BWHNeurology
New in @PNASNews: Childhood social environments leave brain-wide white matter signatures. In 9,000+ youth, we link adversity to structural changes and later cognition—a step toward mapping social networks onto brain biology. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2…
**We are recruiting** Seeking a postdoc to work on a Wellcome-funded cohort study focusing on social-cognitive processing in typically developing children and adolescents (aged 8-18 years) and children and adolescents with 22q11.1 deletion syndrome. jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/49291/
Ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten what you walked in for? 🔎 The latest #BeckyandtheBrain video is now out! This week we focus on...err... its that thing that happens when you...um... can't quite remember... MEMORY- its memory 😅 youtu.be/anHmu0W1JCg
New paper in Imaging Neuroscience by Alicja Monaghan, Danyal Akarca, and Duncan E. Astle: Brain wiring economics, network organisation and population-level genomics doi.org/10.1162/IMAG.a…
🚨 Funded PhD @CambridgeUni! Work with top minds — @DuncanAstle & @sjblakemore on the impact of #developmental differences on #education!🧠📚 A month to apply ⏰ For details see👇 🔗drive.google.com/file/d/1RIvgoU… Newnham-based 👩🎓💅 @mrccbu #psycology #cambridge #opportunity
How does the frontoparietal network encode information from auditory and visual tasks? @Jade_BJackson et al show it encodes rule information in both, with the same neural resources, but it does so using modality dependent non generalisable codes: doi.org/10.1162/IMAG.a…
Fantastic workshop on brain modes, gradients & components at #OHBM2025! @loopyluppi ‘s talk just now was stunning. He covered effects of alterations in consciousness on structure-function coupling (ie on brain mode spectra) 1/2
@LoicMnzs (CRO @CentreEduSyst) chairs a panel on mental health & neurodiversity in young people. Expert insights from Prof @DuncanAstle, Prof @Tamsin_J_Ford & Charlotte Kume-Holland (@DHSCgovuk) #sciencepolicy #csapconference2025
We are honoured to welcome @DuncanAstle from @Cambridge_Uni as keynote #CANDY_GA2025 His talk “Beyond the Label - A Transdiagnostic Approach to Neurodevelopment” explored how neuroinformatics can help to move past traditional diagnostic categories. Very inspiring insights🙏
Interested in exploring a transdiagnostic approach to #Neurodevelopment? @DuncanAstle joins us to consider how this perspective might help us understand the foundational mechanisms that drive developmental change & differences. Book now to attend! bit.ly/4jujuJ6
PhD studentship available in developmental cognitive neuroscience, in Cambridge - please publicise
Funded PhD opportunity with @sjblakemore and I, at Cambridge. We are looking for someone interested in developmental science, to start in the coming academic year. Please share it with anyone you think might be interested (see details attached 😁). drive.google.com/file/d/1RIvgoU…
Funded PhD opportunity with @sjblakemore and I, at Cambridge. We are looking for someone interested in developmental science, to start in the coming academic year. Please share it with anyone you think might be interested (see details attached 😁). drive.google.com/file/d/1RIvgoU…
TWCF grantees @DuncanAstle & @danaka @Cambridge_ used generative network modeling on @HumanConnectome's infant dataset to simulate network organization development. Preterm infants had reduced connectivity, shorter connections, & lower efficiency. nature.com/articles/s4146…
Proud to have been a part of this paper explaining neurodiversity for younger readers Am accessible explainer that might help some adults too! “When we all understand what neurodiversity is, it is easier for everyone to be themselves, no matter how they think, feel and learn.”
🥳 New paper introducing neurodiversity research...for kids! With @cjcrompton @KatieCebula @SueReviews Frontiers for Young Minds is an open scientific journal where kids review alongside adults, making ideas accessible. Great classroom resource! kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…
🔥 This is now out on @eLife as a reviewed preprint. We got some really interesting comments that we’re planning to address, all public, and see how it goes! elifesciences.org/reviewed-prepr…
2 years into making, the last chapter of my PhD thesis, and a set of wonderful collaborators: @m00rcheh, @ShreyDixitAI, @misicbata, @caioseguin, @GZamora_Lopez, @CCHilgetag. 🧵 What can we learn about communication in brain networks from 7000 million virtual lesions:
Bullying is probably our most tractable public mental health risk factor; we know what to do & must implement these effective programmes
This #NIHRfunded study is the largest UK trial of its kind, implemented in 100+ primary schools in England & Wales, involving 11,000+ pupils. It reduced bullying incidents & was equally effective across socio-economically diverse schools, the study found. #PublicHealthResearch.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Happening tomorrow! From being scooped to critical career choices, our panel will offer valuable advice for early career researchers. Drinks and snacks will be provided for networking afterwards🥂 @KBGenesBrains, @Lab_Coleman, @DuncanAstle, hosted by @HugoFleming_ & @_cmhood
All welcome at our panel evening on navigating challenges in academia - not just neuroscientists! With @KBGenesBrains, @Lab_Coleman, @DuncanAstle, @HugoFleming_ and @_cmhood 🗓️Tues 5 Nov ⏰18:30-21:00 🗺️ St John's Old Divinity School Registration free but required 🔗⤵️
My drag name would be Alexy Thymia becaue I'll make you feel every emotion all at once.