Understanding how the brain processes everyday speech in autism
Official title: CRCNS: Building and testing computational models of the neural basis of natural communication
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11395552 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers at Princeton are studying how the brain naturally processes language and face-to-face conversations in people with autism to uncover mechanisms that could improve communication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $363,683 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC022534-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395552 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with autism spectrum disorders or related communication challenges who are receiving care in settings where neural data could be ethically collected and used to advance understanding of language processing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without communication difficulties or those who cannot participate in neural-data studies would be less likely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will use real-world conversations from epilepsy patients to build and test computational models of language processing in the brain. It will create a very large dataset of brain activity during daily conversations and develop machine-learning models that predict brain responses to spoken language. The goal is to understand how the brain predicts and integrates speech during natural, in-person communication, which could inform better supports for people with autism who have communication challenges. The work combines advanced neural recording with cutting-edge AI to simulate how we process language in real life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform new approaches to support communication for people with autism and other speech-affecting disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with neural data and AI models has shown promise in decoding language processing, but this project aims to apply it to natural conversation and autism.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hasson, Uri — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Hasson, Uri
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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.