The Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics (PING) Data Repository

Abstract

The main objective of the multi-site Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics (PING) study was to create a large repository of standardized measurements of behavioral and imaging phenotypes accompanied by whole genome genotyping acquired from typically-developing children varying widely in age (3 to 20 years). This cross-sectional study produced sharable data from 1493 children, and these data have been described in several publications focusing on brain and cognitive development. Researchers may gain access to these data by applying for an account on the PING Portal and filing a Data Use Agreement. Here we describe the recruiting and screening of the children and give a brief overview of the assessments performed, the imaging methods applied, the genetic data produced, and the numbers of cases for whom different data types are available. We also cite sources of more detailed information about the methods and data. Finally we describe the procedures for accessing the data and for using the PING data exploration portal.

Gray matter maturation and cognition in children with different APOE ε genotypes

“…Children were enrolled from diverse ethnic groups and socioeconomic status (SES); detailed participant criteria were reported previously. 22 Specifically, the 1,187 children in the current study were excluded for any confounding neurologic or psychiatric disorders, history of head trauma, mental retardation, preterm birth (,36 weeks), prenatal drug exposure (daily maternal illicit drug use .1 trimester), or any MRI contraindications (including pregnancy).…”

“…Replication and quality-control procedures were described previously. 22 Genetic ancestry factor (GAF) was determined with the ADMIXTURE software (https://www.genetics.ucla.edu/software/admixture/) and the Illumina Human660W-Quad BeadChip for the 6 major continental populations (African, Central Asian, East Asian, European, Native American, and Oceanic) in each child.…”

“…Image acquisition and processing were detailed previously. 22 All scans were performed on 3-tesla scanners (9 Siemens, 2 General Electric, 2 Philips) using closely matched sequences. The protocol included 3-dimensional T1-weighted structural MRI (magnetization-prepared rapidacquisition gradient echo, 1.0 3 1.0 3 1.2 mm 3 , 8 minutes) and diffusion-tensor imaging (echo-planar imaging, 2.5-mm isotropic, b 5 1,000 s/mm 2 , 30 directions, 10 minutes) (http://ping.chd.…”

Individual differences in frontolimbic circuitry and anxiety emerge with adolescent changes in endocannabinoid signaling across species

“…Data used for this study were obtained from the PING Study database (pingstudy.ucsd.edu) (SI Methods) (20). Participants included an initial sample of 1,221 typically developing individuals ranging in age from 3 to 21 y old who had diffusion scans collected in the multisite PING Study.…”

“…course of FAAH C385A effects on frontolimbic circuitry and anxiety-related behavior. Diffusion tensor imaging data from 1,050 human participants ages 3-21 y old (518 females) from the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics (PING) Study (20) and tract tracing in FAAH knock-in and WT mice at P23-P75 were used to measure the interaction of FAAH C385A genotype and age on frontolimbic circuitry relative to control tracts. We specifically hypothesized that FAAH A385 allele effects on enhanced frontolimbic circuitry and anxiety would emerge during adolescence, when AEA levels begin to decrease (10,11), and therefore, may be most sensitive to the additional quantitative effects of the FAAH A385 allele.…”