Study of Brain Development and Social-Emotional Skills in Infants and Young Children from Birth to 6 Years

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how brain development in infants up to 6 years old relates to their social emotions and communication skills. The study also examines the influence of genetic factors and maternal exposures during pregnancy, such as environmental factors and maternal inflammatory conditions. The goal is to provide a foundation for targeted interventions to improve infants social and emotional abilities and overall brain development. The study uses advanced brain imaging techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI with multiple methods like blood-oxygen-level dependent imaging and perfusion weighted imaging. These imaging methods, combined with cloud-based analysis and artificial intelligence, help map brain structure, function, connectivity, and development trajectories. Researchers also assess childrens social-emotional behavior using the Chinese Urban Childrens Emotion and Social Assessment Scale and neurological development with the Gesell Developmental Scale. Blood samples are collected for genetic and biomarker analysis, and family and maternal health information during pregnancy is gathered through questionnaires and clinical history. Participants will undergo brain scans and assessments at the start of the study and again six months later, with intelligence quotient measured annually from ages 3 to 6. Researchers will monitor changes in brain structure, function, blood flow, EEG, social-emotional behavior, brain development, and child mental health. Biomarker screening occurs once at baseline. The study spans from infancy through early childhood, with data collected to understand brain development changes and predict developmental outcomes over time.

The Brain Mechanism of Social Emotion and Communication in Infants Aged 0 to 6 Years