Understanding how infants pay attention to their caregivers
Official title: Longitudinal investigation of endogenous and social-motivational predictors of infants' attention to caregivers
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11019709 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how babies pay attention to their caregivers, which is really important for their learning, especially in situations like when a parent is feeling down or when a child has autism. By watching how babies interact with their caregivers, the researchers want to understand what helps or makes it harder for them to focus and learn.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $386,680 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD108325-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11019709 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include infants and young children, especially those with mothers experiencing depression or those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or those without any atypical developmental conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how infants focus their attention on caregivers, which is essential for their early learning. It explores the impact of social and motivational factors on infants' ability to shift and maintain attention, particularly in atypical developmental contexts such as maternal depression and autism spectrum disorders. By examining both attention orienting and attention holding, the study aims to identify how these mechanisms develop and how disruptions can affect learning outcomes. The research will involve observing infants' interactions with caregivers to gather insights into their attention processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for enhancing learning outcomes in infants, particularly those at risk due to atypical developmental conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding attention mechanisms in infants, but this specific focus on social-motivational factors is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Markant, Julie Christina — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Markant, Julie Christina
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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.