S3E4 Strength-based approaches in DCN with Drs. Divyangana Rakesh, Monica Ellwood-Lowe and Meriah DeJoseph

In this episode, we chat about strength-based approaches in developmental cognitive neuroscience and the importance of identifying and building upon individuals' strength rather than solely focusing on deficits/weaknesses. We explore how strength-based perspectives highlight individuals' resilience and adaptivity in the face of structural inequities, and the ways we can incorporate strength-based approaches in our work. Gavkhar is joined by wonderful guests who have done and are continuing to do impactful work in advancing strength-based research in our field -- Drs. Divyangana Rakesh, Monica Ellwood-Lowe, and Meriah DeJoseph.

For a full transcript, visit: bit.ly/S3E4-strength-based-in-dcn

Connect with our guests:

• Dr. Monica Ellwood-Lowe: @mellwoodlowe.bsky.social
• Dr. Meriah DeJoseph: @meriahdejoseph.bsky.social 
• Dr. Divyangana Rakesh: @divyangana.bsky.social

Relevant resources and discussed papers:

• Communicating and Expanding Research on Adversity Network  (https://cera-network.com/) 
• Monica E. Ellwood-Lowe, Gabriel Reyes, Meriah L. DeJoseph, Willem E. Frankenhuis; Caring for Children in Lower-SES Contexts: Recognizing Parents' Agency, Adaptivity & Resourcefulness. Daedalus 2025; 154 (1): 52–69. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/daed_a_02123
• DeJoseph, M. L., Ellwood-Lowe, M. E., Miller-Cotto, D., Silverman, D., Shannon, K. A., Reyes, G., Rakesh, D., & Frankenhuis, W. E. (2024). The promise and pitfalls of a strength-based approach to child poverty and neurocognitive development: Implications for policy. Developmental cognitive neuroscience, 66, 101375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101375
• Rakesh, D., Sadikova, E., & McLaughlin, K. (2024). Beyond the income‐achievement gap: The role of individual, family, and environmental factors in cognitive resilience among low‐income youth. JCPP Advances, Article e12297. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12297
• Ellwood-Lowe, M. E., Whitfield-Gabrieli, S., & Bunge, S. A. (2021). Brain network coupling associated with cognitive performance varies as a function of a child's environment in the ABCD study. Nature communications, 12(1), 7183. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27336-y
• Banerjee, A. V., Bhattacharjee, S., Chattopadhyay, R., Duflo, E., Ganimian, A. J., Rajah, K., & Spelke, E. S. (2025). Children’s arithmetic skills do not transfer between applied and academic mathematics. Nature, 1-9.
• Hoff, Karla and Pandey, Priyank, Belief Systems and Durable Inequalities: An Experimental Investigation of Indian Caste (June 25, 2004). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=610395
• Taylor, E. K., Abdurokhmonova, G., & Romeo, R. R. (2023). Socioeconomic status and reading development: Moving from “deficit” to “adaptation” in neurobiological models of experience‐dependent learning. Mind, Brain, and Education, 17(4), 324–333. https://doi.org/10.1111/mbe.12351 

Reach out to your host, Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova (ga2541@umd.edu | @gavkhar-a.bsky.social).

Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests.