How infants learn about the actions of people and objects
Official title: How infants learn about people and object causal action
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-10724751 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how babies learn about how people and things interact during their first year, to see if they already know some of this or if they pick it up as they grow, and it’s designed for parents who are curious about their little ones' development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $158,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD112586-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10724751 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are infants within their first year of life who are being observed for cognitive development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older children or adults will not benefit from this research as it specifically focuses on infant learning.
What this research studies
This research investigates how infants develop an understanding of causal relationships between people and objects during their first year of life. It aims to determine whether infants are born with innate knowledge of these relationships or if they learn them through experience. The study employs a combination of behavioral experiments and computational modeling to explore these developmental processes. By observing infants' reactions to various stimuli, researchers will gather insights into their learning mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of cognitive development in infants, potentially leading to improved educational strategies and interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding causal perception in infants, but this study's innovative approach using multiple methods is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Benton, Deon Terrel — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Benton, Deon Terrel
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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.