Mirror Neuron Network Dysfunction as an Early Biomarker of Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Summary
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.
Description
Objective: This investigation has two main objectives: 1) combine two child-friendly brain imaging techniques and stochastic modeling to determine the neural basis for the development of imitation and mimicry in human infants and 2) use machine learning to identify brain activation patterns that predict impairment in imitation and mimicry in infants at risk for social communication disorders. Study Population: This study will focus on two groups of infants. The first group includes 60 typically developing infants, who will complete the imitation and neuroimaging paradigm between the ages of 9…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 0–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
* INCLUSION CRITIERIA: Healthy adults * Age of 18-65 at study entry * Healthy and good condition as determined by medical history and physical examination Healthy Infants * 9 months +/- 2 weeks of age at time of consent * Healthy and good condition as determined by medical history and physical examination * Age appropriate development as determined by parent report and exam * Full term at birth * Normal weight for gestational age At Risk Infants * 12 months +/- 2 weeks at the time of consent * Must have at least one of the following: observed developmental delay; sibling of a child with…
Location
- National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, Maryland