Investigating how bilingualism affects brain function in children with autism
Official title: Exploratory investigation of bilingualism, executive function, and brain organization in children with autism
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10742472 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how growing up speaking two languages might help children with autism think and learn better compared to those who only speak one language, and it aims to share helpful information for families and doctors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 14, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $431,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD111805-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10742472 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who are raised in bilingual environments.
✕Less likely to help
Children with autism who are monolingual or do not have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between bilingualism, executive function (EF), and brain organization in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It aims to understand how being raised in a bilingual environment may influence cognitive abilities and brain networks in these children. The study will involve assessing bilingual children with ASD to determine if they exhibit enhanced EF compared to their monolingual peers. By examining these connections, the research seeks to provide valuable insights for clinicians and families navigating language development in children with ASD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better-informed recommendations for raising bilingual children with autism, potentially enhancing their cognitive development.
How similar studies have gone: While there is preliminary evidence suggesting bilingualism may enhance executive function in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, this specific investigation is novel and has not been extensively studied.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Uddin, Lucina Qazi — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Uddin, Lucina Qazi
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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.