Publications | William Mills

From A to B: Mapping cognitive trajectories and their neural and genetic correlates in neurodivergent children

Mills, W., Epihova, G., Monaghan, A., & Astle, D., (In Press)

Contributions:

Project formulation and development
Investigating links between trajectories and brain connectivity/genetic biomarkers
All secondary data analysis, data cleaning, and statistical modelling
Optimization and utilization of unsupervised machine learning (self-organizing map)

Generative Network Modelling of the Brain Connectome: The GNM Toolbox

Young, E. J., Mills, W., Poli, F., & Astle, D., (In Press)

Contributions:

Development and optimization of toolbox using Python and Pytorch
Reviewing of team code
Converting published graph theoretic measurement algorithms to Python code
Creation and development of Examples and Tutorials (https://generative-network-modelstoolbox.readthedocs.io/en/latest/)
Publishing toolbox to the PyPi open framework (https://pypi.org/project/GenerativeNetworkModels/)

Mapping mental ill-health and health within a large, representative UK school-based sample of adolescents

Bennett, M. P., Mills, W. B., Shalev, I., Johnston, D., Ford, T., Akarca, D., Blakemore, S.-J., Kuyken, W., Montero-Marin, J., Nearchou, F., Astle, D., & Dalgleish, T. (2026). PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/ax8u5_v1

Contributions:

Evaluated validity and reliability of unsupervised machine learning method on secondary data
Developed a cognitively plausible and research-driven method of validating findings with respect to realistic dimensions of mental health
Revised and adapted project code using Matlab programming language
Completed publishable account of findings

A Practical Guide to Self-Organising Maps in Psychological Research

Shalev, I., Trachtenberg, E., Jelen, M. B., Mills, W. B., Bennett, M., Lawson, R. P., Dalgleish, T., & Astle, D. (2025). PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/dy6z2_v3

Contributions:

Revised and evaluated code using R programming language
Provided consultation of validation and reliability methods
Provided an internal report of methods and their algorithmic bases

"My Pronouns Are": Pronoun-Face Mismatch Performance and Self-Report Attitudes to Gender Categorization Across Generations

Hobbs, C., Allen, M., Mills, W., Hinde, S. J., & Hood, B. (in press). PLOS ONE.