How infants and toddlers learn language through their interactions with caregivers
Official title: Neural and behavioral mechanisms of controllability in infants' and toddlers' language development
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-10998252 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how babies and toddlers learn to talk by watching how they interact with their caregivers, and it aims to understand how these experiences shape their language skills, especially for families from different backgrounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $73,828 |
| NIH project number | 1F32HD116572-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10998252 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants and toddlers aged 0-11 years who are in the process of acquiring language skills.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or those who are not in the early stages of language development may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how infants and toddlers develop language skills by exploring their interactions with caregivers. It focuses on understanding how infants learn that their actions can influence communication and how this awareness affects their language development over time. The study will involve observing caregiver-infant interactions and using advanced brain imaging techniques to assess how infants process successful communication. By examining these dynamics, the research aims to identify factors that contribute to language learning disparities among different socioeconomic groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for supporting language development in infants and toddlers, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding caregiver interactions can significantly impact language development, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elmlinger, Steven — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Elmlinger, Steven
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How neuropeptides could influence aging and Alzheimer’s risk
Researchers at Princeton are studying whether changing brain signaling chemicals called neuropeptides can extend healthy aging and reduce Alzheimer’s-related brain changes, with a focus on people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease dementia.
-
Sleep and aging brain resilience in a short-lived vertebrate model
A young-aged-friendly project explores how sleep quality affects brain health during aging, using a tiny, fast-lived fish model to understand Alzheimer’s-related changes.
-
How hepatitis C adapts to other species to help develop vaccines
Researchers are making a mouse-friendly version of hepatitis C so scientists can better test vaccines and understand the virus for people living with or at risk of hepatitis C.
-
Mapping how cells push and pull in living tissues
A science project at Princeton aims to map and control the forces between cells in 3D tissues to better understand cancer, development, and healing, with potential benefits for patients in the future.
-
Understanding how brain signals give rise to thinking using brain-wide recordings
Researchers at Princeton are developing new brain theories and computer tools to understand how complex neural signals relate to thinking and behavior.
-
Cancer metabolism revealed through mass spectrometry and isotope tracing
A scientist team at Princeton will study how cancer cells use nutrients by analyzing metabolites with advanced mass spectrometry and labeled tracers.
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.