Understanding how infants develop the ability to recognize faces
Official title: Development of Face-Processing Abilities in Infants: Structural and Functional Brain Changes
Funded at State University of Ny,binghamton · NIH-11097188 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how babies learn to recognize faces by checking out their brain connections, and it’s for parents who want to understand more about their little ones' development, especially if they have autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of Ny,binghamton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Binghamton, United States) |
| Project start | May 17, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $247,501 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HD102566-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11097188 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include infants around 12 months old, particularly those at risk for autism spectrum disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 21 years or those without developmental concerns related to face processing may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how infants develop the ability to recognize faces by examining the brain's structure and function. It uses advanced imaging techniques to analyze the connections in the brain that are involved in face processing. By studying both adults and 12-month-old infants, the research aims to uncover how these connections change as infants grow. The findings could provide insights into the cognitive development of infants, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of face recognition development, potentially leading to better interventions for children with autism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has successfully used similar imaging techniques to study face processing in adults, suggesting potential for success in this infant-focused approach.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of Ny,binghamton
Binghamton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conte, Stefania — State University of Ny,binghamton
- Study coordinator: Conte, Stefania
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Chemical methods to control RNA function in cells
A scientist-led project explores new chemical tweaks to how regulatory RNAs work, with potential implications for biology and medicine.
-
A quick, online program to help high school students cut back on drinking with parent support
A brief, web-based program for 11th–12th graders, plus a parent-focused component, aims to reduce risky drinking in high school students.
-
Prefrontal Brain Development and Adolescent Reward-Seeking Behavior
A young-person study explores how changing brain circuits during adolescence influence impulse control and reward-driven behaviors.
-
Anterior cingulate changes with prenatal and adolescent alcohol exposure
This grant studies how alcohol exposure before birth and during adolescence may alter brain circuits related to addiction and pain, aiming to understand why some youths develop problematic drinking and anxiety later.
-
Sex-specific withdrawal effects of alcohol during adolescence
This grant studies how adolescent boys and girls differ in withdrawal from alcohol and how brain signals in the fear-and-anxiety center (the central amygdala) may explain those differences.
-
AIE, BBB Regulation, and Neurovascular Health in Alzheimer’s-Related Dementia
This NIH grant supports work on how intermittent alcohol exposure in adolescence affects the brain’s protective barrier and blood flow in people and animal models at risk for Alzheimer’s-related dementia.
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.