Neuroimaging has contributed considerably to our understanding of brain development and its relationship to cognition and behavior. However, despite advancements in neuroimaging, replicability in research remains a key issue and there is no gold standard that can be used to evaluate neuroanatomical correlates of cognition, behavior and their interplay. Researchers from NIMH, McGill, Georgia Tech, Western Ontario, Beijing Normal, the Radboud UMC/Donders, Forschungszentrum Juelich, and University of Oslo have each independently created simulated datasets of the interplay between brain development and behavior. Each group has worked independently and unaware of the approaches and assumptions made by the other groups. Each group was provided the same number of variables and were instructed to create three datasets with each embedding how they envision the interplay between brain development, behavior, and cognition emerges throughout development. We are releasing these simulated datasets to challenge/invite the research community to determine the underlying patterns and assumptions used to generate the simulated datasets. Each dataset contains 10,000 participants over 7 longitudinal waves and ranging from age 7 to 20. During this panel discussion, we will talk about brain development and the challenges and opportunities that modeling offers us, as well as answer any questions the research community might have about the simulated datasets. The code and descriptions of the models that were used to create the datasets will be released at the time of the OHBM meeting in 2025 in Brisbane.

ossig2025

OSR 2024 | Emergent Session 1: The interplay between brain, behavior, and cognition from childhood to adulthood: Panel discussion with independent research groups on simulated datasets