/ Recent content on LIFE-MAP Lab Hugo -- gohugo.io en-uk Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /Projects/SDA-SPA-Project/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /Projects/SDA-SPA-Project/ SDA SPA Project Understanding Sensitive Periods in Adolescence using Secondary Data SDA-SPA is an Economic and Social Research Council - funded project, investigating sensitive periods of adversity in adolescence, and interrogating the types and timing of social adversity during adolescence. We have been employing mixed methods and multiple data sources: ranging from leveraging longitudinal cohort data (N ~ 12,000 participants) to qualitative analyses of support practitioners’ perspectives to gain insight into the issues young people face. /Projects/UNITE-Project/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /Projects/UNITE-Project/ UNITE Project Understanding individual and social pathways to loneliness in young people from socio-economically marginalised background Loneliness is the unwelcome feeling of social isolation. While research and policy have focused mainly on loneliness in the elderly, loneliness is more common in youth than in other age groups. The UK government estimates that 11% of young people feel lonely often or always, and 26% feel lonely at least sometimes. Research in adults shows that socio-economic marginalisation (characterized by poverty and lack of educational and occupational opportunities) doubles the occurrence of loneliness, yet loneliness in young people from socio-economically marginalised young people is little understood. /2025/10/09/new-lab-paper-hubu/ Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 /2025/10/09/new-lab-paper-hubu/ Developmental trajectories for global brain volume and subcortical regions. Trajectories (with 95% confidence intervals) are plotted separately for females, males, and both sexes, and overlaid on individual trajectories for each participant. Cortical GM = cortical grey matter. WM = white matter. TBV = total brain volume. Our recent study, led by Chloe Carrick and published in Human Brain Mapping, identifies individual differences in the timing and pace of maturation of global and subcortical brain volumes during adolescence. /2025/10/02/ahmad-muntadhar-is-joining-the-lab/ Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 /2025/10/02/ahmad-muntadhar-is-joining-the-lab/ Ahmad Muntadhar is joining us as a placement student. Check out his profile on our Team page. Welcome to the lab, Ahmad! /2025/03/19/congratulations-dr-benza-and-dr-pollmann/ Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 /2025/03/19/congratulations-dr-benza-and-dr-pollmann/ We are delighted to share that Karina Benza and Ayla Pollmann passed their PhD vivas with minor corrections. Ayla’s thesis was entitled: “Adversity in Adolescence: Longitudinal Insights into Brain Development and Mental Health”. See below a photo of Ayla with her examiners, Dr Anne-Lise Goddings (UCL) and Dr Edwin Dalmaijr (University of Bristol). She was supervised by Dr Delia Fuhrmann and Dr Caroline Catmur! Karina’s thesis was entitled: “Exploring Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Conduct Problems in Global Perspective” We have included below a photo of Karina with her examiners, Prof Bonamy Oliver (UCL) and Dr Iris Lavy (University of Bath). /2025/02/20/new-lab-paper-a-framework/ Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 /2025/02/20/new-lab-paper-a-framework/ A framework for understanding adverse adolescent experiences The Adverse Adolescent Experiences (AAEs) framework. The AEEs framework is based on Bronfenbrenner (1979). Figure created for Pollmann et al. (2025). In our recent opinion piece, published in Nature Human Behaviour, we introduce a framework for understanding adverse experiences in adolescence. Adolescence (ages 10–24) is characterized by cognitive, behavioural and social development. Childhood environments are typically centred on home and care settings, whereas adolescents increasingly engage with peer and community environments. /2025/01/09/the-first-live-recording-of-the-science-or-fiction-podcast-out-now/ Thu, 09 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 /2025/01/09/the-first-live-recording-of-the-science-or-fiction-podcast-out-now/ In October, Kathryn and the team hosted the first Science or Fiction Live! A live recording of The Science or Fiction Podcast. Kathryn started the podcast in 2022 in collaboration with young people: in each episode, they separate the science from the fiction in news headlines on mental health and psychology. The aim is to equip listeners with knowledge of scientific methods and results to empower them to be critical of science in the media. /2024/09/19/science-or-fiction-podcast-live-event/ Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /2024/09/19/science-or-fiction-podcast-live-event/ Should we worry about online self-diagnosis? Is this trend contributing to rising ADHD rates? We will interview a panel of experts to find out. Dr Kathryn Bates (TSoFP founder) and Mariam Shah (TSoFP youth advisor) will interview ADHD experts Shauna Campbell (Podcast Director of ADHD Babes) and Professor Ellie Dommett (Professor of Neuroscience at King’s College London) to answer the big questions surrounding self-diagnosis of ADHD. We will cover why ADHD rates are increasing and how to use social media wisely when seeking ADHD information. /2024/07/09/new-lab-paper-neurodevelopmental-changes-after-adversity/ Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /2024/07/09/new-lab-paper-neurodevelopmental-changes-after-adversity/ Making connections: Neurodevelopmental changes in brain connectivity after adverse experiences in early adolescence Image of white tracts adapted from Kievit et al. (2016) In our recent study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, we utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study to examine the relationship between adverse experiences and brain connectivity during early adolescence. The large-scale longitudinal study included approximately 12,000 participants aged 9-13 years. Using fractional anisotropy (FA) measurements of white matter tracts, we assessed structural brain connectivity at two timepoints. /2023/10/30/lara-acosta-siljestrom-chloe-carrick-and-lauren-turner-are-joining-the-lab/ Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 /2023/10/30/lara-acosta-siljestrom-chloe-carrick-and-lauren-turner-are-joining-the-lab/ Lara Acosta Siljestrom is joining us an NIHR Predoctoral Fellow, Chloe Carrick is joining us as a PhD Student and Lauren Turner as a Visiting Researcher. Check out their profiles on our Team page. Welcome to the lab! /2023/10/03/seeking-two-paid-young-person-co-researchers/ Tue, 03 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 /2023/10/03/seeking-two-paid-young-person-co-researchers/ Work as a lived experience consultant for around 2 days per month (flexible work pattern to be agreed) at £20 p/h Applicants must be UK residents aged 16 - 21 years with right to work Applicants must be based in London, UK (hybrid work required) We are researchers from the Youth Resilience Unit at Queen Mary’s University, London, and the Development and Environment Research Group at King’s College London, and we are looking to recruit two youth co-researchers (aged 16-21 years) to contribute to research design in youth loneliness and dissemination of research findings. /2023/05/24/new-policy-report-practitioners-concerns-for-issues-facing-young-people/ Wed, 24 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 /2023/05/24/new-policy-report-practitioners-concerns-for-issues-facing-young-people/ We have teamed up with the charity Barnardo’s to find out what Barnardo’s support practitioners view as the most important issues facing young people. For this research, we analysed data from quarterly surveys of Barnardo’s frontline workers across the UK to assess what practitioners view as the most important issues facing young people, and how these issues changed between June 2019 and November 2021. Practitioners told us that young people face a mental health emergency, heightened online dangers and a lack of support until reaching ‘crisis point’. /2023/01/24/new-lab-paper-a-call-for-better-research-and-resources-for-understanding-and-combatting-youth-loneliness/ Tue, 24 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 /2023/01/24/new-lab-paper-a-call-for-better-research-and-resources-for-understanding-and-combatting-youth-loneliness/ A call for better research and resources for understanding and combatting youth loneliness: integrating the perspectives of young people and researchers In our in our perspective paper, lead by our young people co-researchers, Iqra Alam, Ezekiel Khayri & Tabitha Podger, we call for better resources and research for combating youth loneliness. We argue for three key points: First, there is a need to delineate chronic from transient loneliness. This will help identify those most at-risk for poorer health outcomes. /2022/09/19/man-shiu-kwok-is-joining-the-lab/ Mon, 19 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000 /2022/09/19/man-shiu-kwok-is-joining-the-lab/ Man Shiu Kwok is joining us as a placement student. Check out her profile on our Team page. Welcome to the lab, Man Shiu! /2022/08/10/new-lab-paper-out-in-neuroimage/ Wed, 10 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000 /2022/08/10/new-lab-paper-out-in-neuroimage/ The midpoint of cortical thinning between late childhood and early adulthood differs between individuals and brain regions: Evidence from longitudinal modelling in a 12-wave neuroimaging sample In a recent paper in NeuroImage, we used high-temporal resolution neuroimaging data of up to 12-waves in the HUBU cohort (N = 90, aged 7-21 years) to investigate changes in apparent cortical thickness across childhood and adolescence. Fitting a four-parameter logistic nonlinear random effects mixed model, we quantified the characteristic, s-shaped, trajectory of cortical thinning in adolescence. /2022/07/09/network-analysis-tutorial/ Sat, 09 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 /2022/07/09/network-analysis-tutorial/ By Ayla Pollmann (2022) For my first PhD project, I learned an exciting new method: Network analysis. While there is lots of information out there, this is a relatively new method and the material often assumes an already quite thorough understanding. Here, you will find an easy to follow example of how to get started with network analysis, making it look pretty and helpful resources that guided me throughout my project. /2022/03/02/paid-young-person-advisor-role-open-science-communication-and-mental-health/ Wed, 02 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000 /2022/03/02/paid-young-person-advisor-role-open-science-communication-and-mental-health/ 1 day per week for 6 weeks at £12 p/h Applicants must be UK residents aged 18 or over, with right to work London, UK/Remote We are the Development and Environment Research Group at King’s College London, and we are looking to recruit a Young Person Advisor to help produce and disseminate our new podcast series. We have an exciting opportunity for the Young Person Advisor to work with us and advise on the content of the podcast. /2021/12/06/new-lab-paper-using-large-datasets-to-study-development/ Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /2021/12/06/new-lab-paper-using-large-datasets-to-study-development/ Using large, publicly available data sets to study adolescent development: Opportunities and challenges Adolescence is a period of rapid change, with cognitive, mental wellbeing, environmental biological factors interacting to shape lifelong outcomes. Large, longitudinal phenotypically rich data sets available for reuse (secondary data) have revolutionized the way we study adolescence, allowing the field to examine these unfolding processes across hundreds or even thousands of individuals. In a recent review in Current Opinion in Psychology, we outline the opportunities and challenges associated with such secondary data sets, provide an overview of particularly valuable resources available to the field, and recommend best practices to improve the rigor and transparency of analyses conducted on large, secondary data sets. /2021/09/27/kathryn-bates-is-joining-the-lab/ Mon, 27 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /2021/09/27/kathryn-bates-is-joining-the-lab/ Dr. Kathryn Bates is joining us as a postdoc. Check out her profile on our Team page. Welcome to the lab, Kathryn! /2021/09/07/paper-cps/ Tue, 07 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /2021/09/07/paper-cps/ Well-Being and Cognition Are Coupled During Development: A Preregistered Longitudinal Study of 1,136 Children and Adolescents In a recent paper in Clinical Psychological Science, we investigate the links between well-being and cognition during development. Using a complex systems approach, we preregistered and modeled the relationship between well-being and cognition in a prospective cohort of 1,136 children between the ages of 6 to 7 years and 15 years. We found bidirectional interactions between well-being and cognition that unfold dynamically over time. /2021/08/01/amber-is-joining-us/ Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /2021/08/01/amber-is-joining-us/ Amber Inman is joining us as a placement student. Check out her profile on our Team page. Welcome to the lab, Amber! /join-us/ Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /join-us/ Join us! We would love to hear from you if you are interested in joining the lab or collaborating with us! … As a PhD student If you are interested in joining us as a PhD student at KCL, check out the KCL information pages for information on PhD programs, funding and application procedures at KCL. If you would like to discuss this further, please send Delia an email with a brief statement of your research interests. /resources/ Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /resources/ Resources … For young people We have teamed up with the charity Barnardo’s to find out what Barnardo’s support practitioners view as the most important issues facing young people. Together with Barnardo’s we make recommendations for better support of young people. Read an article on loneliness after leaving school written by our team, and published by The Mix charity You can read an opinion piece about youth loneliness we have written together with young people. /team/ Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /team/ Team Dr Delia Fuhrmann Principal Investigator Delia is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at King’s College London and leads the LIFE-MAP Lab. Her research is currently funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and UK Research and Innovation. Prior to joining King’s, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge. She completed her PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University College London and her BSc Hons Psychology at the University of St Andrews. /news/ Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /news/ /contact/ Wed, 28 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /contact/ Get in touch!   delia.fuhrmann@kcl.ac.uk   King's College London       Psychology Department       Addison House       Room Number 2.12       Great Maze Pond       London SE1 9RT, UK /publications/ Mon, 26 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 /publications/ Publications You can find PDFs, preregistrations, scripts, and materials for our publications below. 2025 Pollmann, A., Rakesh, D., & Fuhrmann D. (2025). Longitudinal associations between adolescent adversity, brain development and behavioural and emotional problems. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 77:101646. doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101646. Carrick, C., Baaré, W. F. C., Vitoratou, S., Madsen, K. S.+ & Fuhrmann, D.+ (2025). Individual differences in developmental trajectories of global and subcortical brain volumes between late childhood and late adolescence: Findings from a 12-wave neuroimaging study. /about/ Thu, 05 May 2016 21:48:51 -0700 /about/ We are the Lifespan Modelling and Psychometrics (LIFE-MAP) Lab at King's College London 🧠 Lifespan Development | 📋 Psychometrics | 📈 Statistical Modelling | 🤝 Participatory/Co-produced Research | 🔓 Open Science Our work asks: How does the mind and brain change across the lifespan, and how can we capture and model those changes more effectively? We develop psychometric tools (e.g., questionnaires) and statistical models (e.g., network and longitudinal models) to capture developmental processes, and we work to strengthen methodology and research practices in developmental psychology.