Assessing how infants regulate emotions during interactions with caregivers using advanced technology.

Validation of a Virtual Still Face Procedure and Deep Learning Algorithms to Assess Infant Emotion Regulation and Infant-Caregiver Interactions in the Wild

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-10936518

This study is looking at how babies learn to manage their feelings by watching how they interact with their parents, using cool technology to track their emotions in real life, and it’s especially helpful for families with babies who might need a little extra support.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Champaign, United States)
Project IDNIH-10936518 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how infants learn to regulate their emotions through interactions with their caregivers. By utilizing advanced machine learning techniques and wearable sensors, the study aims to capture real-time emotional experiences of infants in their everyday environments, rather than in controlled lab settings. This approach seeks to reduce the burden on families and improve the accuracy of findings related to infant emotional development, especially for those at risk due to factors like prenatal substance exposure. The goal is to create innovative methods that can provide deeper insights into infant-caregiver dynamics.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include infants and young children, especially those who may have been exposed to substances during pregnancy or are at risk for emotional and relational difficulties.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 11 years or those without any emotional regulation concerns may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for supporting emotional development in infants, particularly those at risk for emotional dysregulation.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using technology and machine learning to assess emotional responses, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Champaign, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.