How caregivers' voices help 12–24 month olds focus
How infant-directed speech organizes the attentional state of infants
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · NIH-11181010
This project looks at whether the sounds and tone adults use when talking to 12–24 month old infants change babies' heart rate and help them look at toys for longer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11181010 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You and your child would come to the lab where researchers record how caregivers talk to their infants and measure the infants' looking, body movement, and heart rate. They use head-mounted eye-tracking and a lightweight wireless vest to capture where the baby looks, how still they stay, and changes in heart rate while hearing caregiver speech. The team will analyze specific acoustic features of the caregiver's voice and link those features to moments when infants sustain attention on objects. The goal is to see how everyday vocal cues might shape infants' internal state and attention during the 12–24 month window when these patterns predict later learning.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are healthy infants aged 12 to 24 months and their caregivers who can attend short lab visits in Houston.
Not a fit: Infants outside the 12–24 month age range or those with uncorrected hearing or severe sensory impairments may not benefit from or be eligible for this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help caregivers use simple vocal strategies to support infants' attention and early learning.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked caregiver speech to infant attention and physiological responses, but this project adds head-mounted eye-tracking and wireless cardiac monitoring to link specific voice features to sustained attention.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BORJON, JEREMY ISAAC — UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
- Study coordinator: BORJON, JEREMY ISAAC
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.