RECRUITING

Mirror Neuron Network Dysfunction as an Early Biomarker of Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Description

Background: People show changes in brain activity when they watch other people do actions. This may be part of early social and communication skills. Researchers want to understand the stages of normal development of motor observation and imitation in people and how it relates to social development in infants and toddlers. Objective: To study the nature of brain activity that underlies typical brain functioning in infants, toddlers, and adults. Eligibility: Infants ages 8 12 months Healthy adults ages 18 65 Design: Adult participants will have one visit. They will: Answer questions about their family, like its size and ethnicity. Answer questions about their own behavior and do a simple motor task. Have EEG/fNIRS. A damp elastic cap with small sensors will be placed on the head. Participants will observe stimuli, either on a video screen or of a live person. The sensors will be connected to a computer. That will record the participant s brain activity while watching pictures on a screen. Infant participants will have 2 visits. Their parents will answer questions about their family. The parents will fill out forms about their child s development. These will be mailed to them before each visit. Parents will stay with their infant while study staff does an assessment of the child s communication, motor, and thinking skills. Infants will have EEG/fNIRS. Infants who are at risk for developmental delays will come back for another visit when they are about 2 years old. This will repeat the infant visits but it will not include EEG/fNIRS. Some questionnaires and assessments will be videotaped.

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Background: People show changes in brain activity when they watch other people do actions. This may be part of early social and communication skills. Researchers want to understand the stages of normal development of motor observation and imitation in people and how it relates to social development in infants and toddlers. Objective: To study the nature of brain activity that underlies typical brain functioning in infants, toddlers, and adults. Eligibility: Infants ages 8 12 months Healthy adults ages 18 65 Design: Adult participants will have one visit. They will: Answer questions about their family, like its size and ethnicity. Answer questions about their own behavior and do a simple motor task. Have EEG/fNIRS. A damp elastic cap with small sensors will be placed on the head. Participants will observe stimuli, either on a video screen or of a live person. The sensors will be connected to a computer. That will record the participant s brain activity while watching pictures on a screen. Infant participants will have 2 visits. Their parents will answer questions about their family. The parents will fill out forms about their child s development. These will be mailed to them before each visit. Parents will stay with their infant while study staff does an assessment of the child s communication, motor, and thinking skills. Infants will have EEG/fNIRS. Infants who are at risk for developmental delays will come back for another visit when they are about 2 years old. This will repeat the infant visits but it will not include EEG/fNIRS. Some questionnaires and assessments will be videotaped.

Mirror Neuron Network Dysfunction as an Early Biomarker of Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Mirror Neuron Network Dysfunction as an Early Biomarker of Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Condition
Developmental Delay
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Bethesda

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Uncorrected auditory impairment
  • * Uncorrected visual impairment
  • * Head injury with loss of consciousness
  • * Inability to provide consent
  • * Subject has a condition that in the opinion of the investigator creates an unacceptable risk for participation
  • * Not being exposed to English as the primary language spoken at home
  • * Having a medical impairment that interferes with study participation such as having a g-tube, shunt or seizure disorder and inability to hold one s head upright
  • * Having a known visual impairment
  • * Having a known auditory impairment

Ages Eligible for Study

9 Months to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD),

Amir H Gandjbakhche, Ph.D., PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Study Record Dates

2031-02-01