Understanding attention in infants and toddlers with autism using mobile eye tracking

Atypical Development in Infants and Toddlers: Computational Attentional Signatures through Mobile Eye Tracking

NIH-funded research Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-10996194

This study is looking at how babies and toddlers with autism see and pay attention to things around them, using special eye-tracking technology, to help doctors better understand and diagnose autism in a friendly and easy way.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSeattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project IDNIH-10996194 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how infants and toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) process visual information by using mobile eye tracking technology. The study aims to identify specific attentional patterns that could serve as biomarkers for diagnosing and understanding ASD. By observing how children look at and interact with their environment, researchers hope to develop automated assessments that can be used in clinical settings. The approach is designed to be non-invasive and accessible, allowing for a better understanding of developmental differences in young children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are infants and toddlers aged 2 years who are at risk for autism spectrum disorder, particularly those with a first-degree relative diagnosed with ASD.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 11 years or do not have a family history of autism may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for children with autism spectrum disorder.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using eye tracking as a tool for understanding attentional processes in children with autism, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Seattle, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.