Early signs that predict thinking and language skills in young children
Early Predictors of Cognitive/Language Development
This project uses noninvasive brain recordings (MEG) in infants and toddlers with genetic risk for intellectual and developmental disabilities to look for early patterns that predict later thinking and language abilities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129818 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would bring your baby or toddler to Children's Hospital for short, noninvasive brain recordings using magnetoencephalography (MEG) while they listen to sounds and simple words. The team uses specially designed listening tasks for infants and toddlers to measure how the auditory cortex responds to basic tones and to speech. Babies are seen at 6, 12, and 18 months in the infant phase, and a separate preschool group of 3-year-olds is also studied, with the goal of linking early brain responses to thinking and language levels later on. The design follows children over time so researchers can compare early brain signals with developmental outcomes around 3 years of age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants and toddlers with known genetic risk factors for intellectual and developmental disabilities, and preschoolers around age three with similar diagnoses, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children without genetic risk for IDD, those outside the 6-month to 3-year age range, or children unable to undergo MEG sessions may not receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could allow clinicians to identify children at high risk for intellectual or language difficulties much earlier so they can begin support and therapies sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work using these MEG paradigms has shown promise in detecting brain responses tied to cognitive and language abilities, but applying them to predict individual outcomes early in life is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roberts, Timothy P — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Roberts, Timothy P
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.