Music training to help children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
Official title: The synchrony study: A randomized controlled trial of music training for children
Funded at Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11420522 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A randomized trial will test whether regular music training improves brain function and key skills in children with FASD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $853,415 |
| NIH project number | 5R33AA030819-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420522 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder or related prenatal alcohol exposure who are within the study's age ranges.
✕Less likely to help
Some children may not respond to music training or may have other conditions limiting benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a structured music training program for children with FASD to see if it can boost listening, attention, memory, and other cognitive abilities. The study uses a randomized design to compare outcomes between kids who receive the music training and those who do not, over a defined period. By focusing on predictive coding and multisensory processing, the researchers hope to show improvements in how children process sounds and adapt to tasks important for learning and daily activities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children with FASD could gain better attention, learning skills, and everyday functioning through music-based intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests music training can improve auditory and cognitive skills in related populations, but findings in FASD are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stephen, Julia Marie — Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Stephen, Julia Marie
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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.