Monitoring brain changes during reading lessons in children with and without reading difficulties
Tracking neurocognitive changes during evidence-based reading instruction in typically and atypically developing children
Researchers will follow brain activity and learning during evidence-based reading lessons in young children with and without reading difficulties to find what helps some kids improve and why others do not.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174319 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child takes part, they would get brain imaging before learning and regular, shorter brain monitoring sessions during a course of reading lessons, plus a final scan afterward. The team uses MRI and MRS for detailed pre-learning brain measures and portable fNIRS and EEG to track brain function frequently during the intervention. Children who respond well and those who make only small gains will be compared to identify different learning patterns. Findings will be used to try short-term adaptive lessons aimed at children who do not improve with standard instruction.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young children in early school years who are struggling with reading or have a diagnosed reading disability, and typically developing children willing to serve as comparison participants.
Not a fit: Adults, children outside the study age range, or children with unrelated severe medical or neurological conditions are unlikely to be eligible or see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to more personalized reading programs that help children who currently do not improve with standard reading instruction.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work, including the team's earlier project, has shown brain changes after reading remediation and identified predictors of who improves, but continuous brain tracking and adaptive targeting of non-responders are more novel.
Where this research is happening
Storrs-Mansfield, United States
- University of Connecticut Storrs — Storrs-Mansfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pugh, Kenneth R. — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Pugh, Kenneth R.
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.