How musical rhythm can help improve social engagement in individuals with autism.
Musical Rhythm Sensitivity to Scaffold Social Engagement in Autism Spectrum Disorder
This study is exploring how music and rhythm can help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder connect better with others, by looking at how they respond to music just like typically developing toddlers do, with the hope of creating fun music activities that improve their social skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11078738 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how musical rhythm can enhance social interactions in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It focuses on the concept of 'entrainment,' where infants synchronize their eye contact with the rhythmic cues provided by caregivers during musical activities. By studying both typically developing toddlers and those with ASD, the research aims to understand how rhythmic patterns in music can be used as a tool for improving social communication skills. The findings could lead to new music-based interventions tailored for children with ASD to foster better social engagement.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation include toddlers diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as typically developing toddlers.
Not a fit: Patients who are not within the toddler age range or do not have Autism Spectrum Disorder may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide innovative music-based therapies that significantly improve social communication skills in children with autism.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in using rhythmic music interventions to enhance social skills in children with developmental disorders, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lense, Miriam — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Lense, Miriam
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.