Origins of Basic Reasoning in the Developing Brain
Official title: Origins of Basic Reasoning in the Developing Brain: Interdisciplinary Research
Funded at Carnegie-Mellon University · NIH-11339992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Carnegie Mellon will look at how young children develop the ability to reason about relationships, using behavioral tests and brain imaging to understand what changes as autism may affect this skill.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $339,574 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD121553-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11339992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children aged 3–7 with or without autism who can participate in behavioral tasks and noninvasive brain imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Very young children or those unable to participate in imaging or behavioral tasks may receive limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows children aged 3 to 7 as researchers combine behavioral tasks with brain imaging to map how relational reasoning develops. It compares human children with non-human primates to identify which parts of this thinking are unique to humans and how brain networks reorganize during early childhood. The team tests a framework that splits relational reasoning into general learning, human-specific memory growth, and cultural support through symbols. By examining neural systems involved in visual processing and other brain pathways, the study aims to reveal how relational thinking emerges and changes over time. The research could shed light on why relational reasoning is affected in autism and related learning differences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved understanding of how children develop relational thinking, which could inform education and intervention strategies for autism and related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Similar work in developmental neuroscience has shown links between neural development and cognitive skills, with ongoing research improving comprehension of these processes.
Where this research is happening
-
Carnegie-Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cantlon, Jessica F — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Cantlon, Jessica F
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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.