Getting started with ABCD: quick start

Getting started with ABCD: quick start#

Last reviewed: October 2026 (ABCD Release 7.0).

The short version. Each step links to a detailed page in Working with ABCD data.

  1. Explore without access. Browse variables in the DEAP data dictionary or the plain-language ABCD semantic search tool. → Working with the data

  2. Get a Data Use Certification (DUC) through the NBDC Data Hub. Trainees join their PI’s group DUC, then pass the NBDC responsible-use training. → Getting access

  3. Pick a release (currently 7.0, DOI 10.82525/8f3w-5260) and learn the 6.0+ naming scheme (sub-*, ses-00A, new variable names). → Accessing the data

  4. Get the data: DEAP for tabulated data, Globus for full releases and imaging, or the NBDC Sandbox to avoid downloading. → Downloading the data

  5. Analyze with NBDCtools / nbdctools, ABCDscores, and models that account for family, site, and repeated measures. → Working with the data · Best-practice guides

  6. Share responsibly: cite the release DOI, include the acknowledgment, keep all cells ≥ 10, never share individual-level data or paste it into AI tools, and share your code. → Disseminating your work

Note

ABCD moved from the NIMH Data Archive (NDA) to the NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) Data Hub with Release 6.0 (2025). The old NDA-era instructions are archived at the bottom of Getting access.