Investigating how deaf and hearing signers respond to visual signs in American Sign Language.
Official title: Examining MEG visual mismatch responses to ASL signs by deaf and hearing signers
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11119583 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how early experiences with language can shape the way our brains understand American Sign Language (ASL), and it's for both deaf people who haven't had much exposure to ASL and hearing people who use it, to see how different backgrounds affect brain responses to visual signs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $194,375 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC022046-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11119583 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include deaf individuals who have had limited exposure to ASL and hearing individuals who are fluent in ASL.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in language acquisition or who have had a rich early exposure to ASL may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores how early language experiences affect the brain's ability to process visual signs in American Sign Language (ASL). By using advanced brain imaging techniques, the study will compare the neural responses of deaf individuals who have had limited exposure to ASL with those of hearing individuals who use ASL. The goal is to understand how a rich language environment influences perceptual development and brain function, particularly in the context of visual language processing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of language development in deaf children and inform better educational strategies for language acquisition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has successfully utilized similar methodologies to study auditory processing in spoken languages, suggesting potential for success in this visual language context.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Qi — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Qi
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.