New ultrasound scans to map infants' brain activity during movement
Detection and characterization of motor activity in behaving infants through the use of novel ultrasonic brain imaging technology
This project uses a new ultrasound brain scan to detect and map movement-related brain activity in awake infants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179218 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent, you would hear that investigators are adapting a high-resolution functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI) method to record brain signals while babies are awake and moving. fUSI can image deeper brain areas with fine spatial and temporal detail and is compatible with freely moving subjects, which may reduce the need for sleep or strict stillness during scans. The team will translate techniques that worked in animals and larger mammals to safely capture motor-related activity in human infants. The aim is to characterize normal early motor brain activity and improve how researchers can study infant movement in natural settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are infants and young babies whose caregivers are willing to bring them for awake brain imaging sessions at the research site.
Not a fit: Adults, older children, or infants who cannot tolerate the imaging procedure or have contraindications are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve understanding and earlier detection of motor-development problems and enable better monitoring or interventions for infants with movement disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Functional ultrasound has shown promising results in animal studies and larger mammals, but applying it to map motor activity in awake human infants is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Riverside, United States
- University of California Riverside — Riverside, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christopoulos, Vasileios N — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Christopoulos, Vasileios N
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.