Understanding How Babies Learn Their First Words
Linguistic, Social, and Cognitive Determinants of Early Word Learning
['FUNDING_R01'] · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11126549
This project explores how babies learn their first words by looking at how their social, thinking, and language skills develop together.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | HARVARD UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11126549 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project aims to understand why word learning improves dramatically in toddlers, especially how social cues like pointing and other language skills contribute. Researchers will follow babies between 10 and 16 months old, observing their development every two weeks. This work is important because early word comprehension is key for later school and social success, and understanding it better can help children who might be struggling with language development. The goal is to build a strong foundation of knowledge to support future interventions for conditions like Autistic Disorder.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related work might include infants and toddlers, particularly those showing early signs of language delay or those at risk for conditions like Autistic Disorder.
Not a fit: Patients who are not infants or toddlers, or those without concerns about early language development, may not directly benefit from this specific foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier identification and more effective support for young children who are having difficulty learning words, especially those with conditions like Autistic Disorder.
How similar studies have performed: While prior work links pointing and language, this project uses a more detailed developmental approach with highly sensitive tasks, making its specific methodology novel.
Where this research is happening
CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY — CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BERGELSON, ELIKA — HARVARD UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BERGELSON, ELIKA
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.
Conditions: Autistic Disorder