Understanding how babies learn language and its impact on development
Official title: Early Neurodevelopmental Trajectories of Typical and Atypical Language Acquisition
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11014409 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how babies learn to understand language in their first year of life, focusing on how their brains react to different languages, and it aims to help kids with language delays, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | January 19, 2023 |
| Project end | March 21, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $15,339 |
| NIH project number | 5F31HD108987-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11014409 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include infants under one year old, particularly those at risk for language delays or diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than one year or those without any language acquisition concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the early stages of language acquisition in infants, particularly focusing on how their brain processes language during the first year of life. By examining neural activity and connectivity related to language skills, the study aims to identify patterns that could predict language development outcomes. The research utilizes data from ongoing studies to explore how infants distinguish between native and non-native languages and how this affects their language skills as they grow. The findings could lead to improved interventions for children with language delays, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better early interventions for children with language impairments, improving their communication skills and social outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding language acquisition and its neural correlates, indicating that this approach has potential for significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wagner, Lauren E — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Wagner, Lauren E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how genetic changes in blood cells relate to heart disease in people with HIV
A study will look at how age-related blood cell mutations and large chromosomal changes might contribute to heart disease risk in people living with HIV.
-
Systems genetics of vascular smooth muscle phenotypes in heart disease
Aims to understand how genetic differences influence vascular smooth muscle cells to improve prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease.
-
Motivation for Alcohol Use in Humans and How It Can Be Measured
This grant explores how people are motivated to drink alcohol and tests a safe, controlled way to study that motivation to inform better treatments for alcohol use disorder.
-
Overcoming CAR T cell resistance with tumor-targeted IL-12 to boost anti-tumor immunity
Aims to make CAR T cell therapy work better for solid tumors by using tumor-focused IL-12 to boost the body’s attack on cancer.
-
PediCODE: A Biorepository and Consortium for CoDE - Congenital Diarrhea and Enteropathy
A nationwide effort to collect clinical data and patient-derived samples to uncover the genetic causes of congenital diarrhea and enteropathy and to build a resource that helps researchers study these diseases.
-
Mentor Moms+: a community-led plan to cut alcohol use and HIV risk during pregnancy in South Africa
A community-based program adapts a trusted peer-led model to help pregnant and lactating people reduce alcohol use and HIV risk in South Africa.
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.