How Toddlers Remember and Use New Words
Neural Substrates of Word Retention and Generalization in Toddlers
This project aims to understand how young children, especially those with Autistic Disorder, remember and use new words over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181182 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We want to learn how toddlers' brains hold onto new words and connect them to different situations. This project uses special brain imaging (fMRI) designed for children aged 25 to 35 months to see which brain areas are active during word learning. By looking at these brain processes, we hope to understand why some children learn words faster or remember them better than others. This knowledge could help us support language development in young children, particularly those with Autistic Disorder.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Toddlers between 25 and 35 months of age, including those with Autistic Disorder, who are able to participate in fMRI scans, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients outside the specified age range or those unable to participate in fMRI imaging may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to help young children, particularly those with Autistic Disorder, develop their vocabulary and improve their communication skills.
How similar studies have performed: While much is known about initial word learning, this project explores the less understood brain processes behind long-term word retention and generalization in toddlers, making its approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghetti, Simona — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Ghetti, Simona
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.