Understanding how children learn categories through their visual experiences

Grounding models of category learning in the visual experiences of young children

NIH-funded research University of California, San Diego · NIH-11171135

This study is looking at how young kids learn to connect words with different things they see around them, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how children develop their language skills through their visual experiences.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project IDNIH-11171135 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how young children learn to associate words with categories by examining their visual experiences. It aims to collect data on the types of visual stimuli children encounter, such as different objects and their representations, to understand how these experiences influence their ability to learn words. By using deep neural networks, the research will analyze the relationship between children's visual experiences and their word learning outcomes, providing insights into cognitive development in early childhood.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are children aged 0-11 years who are in the early stages of language acquisition.

Not a fit: Patients who are adults or those who are not in the early stages of language development may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance educational strategies and tools for improving early language development in children.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that understanding visual experiences can significantly impact language learning, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

La Jolla, 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 2026-06-09 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.