How infants learn to recognize objects and categories through their own visual experiences

Infants' self-generated visual statistics support object and category learning

NIH-funded research Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-10907584

This study is looking at how one-year-old toddlers learn to recognize and sort different objects while they play, using special eye-tracking glasses to see what catches their attention, and the results could help spot early signs of developmental delays in kids who might need extra support.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionTrustees of Indiana University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Bloomington, United States)
Project IDNIH-10907584 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how one-year-old toddlers learn to recognize and categorize objects through their visual experiences. By using head-mounted eye-trackers, the study captures the visual data generated by infants as they interact with various objects during play. The goal is to understand the properties of these real-world visual experiences that aid in object recognition and categorization, which are crucial for language development and problem-solving skills. The findings could help identify early developmental delays in children at risk.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are infants aged 17 to 22 months, particularly those who may be at risk for developmental delays.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 22 months or do not have any developmental concerns may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of early childhood development and lead to improved interventions for children with developmental delays.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in understanding visual recognition in older children, but this approach focusing on infants is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Bloomington, 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.
Conditions Autistic Disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 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.