Actively Recruiting
Mirror Neuron Network Dysfunction as an Early Biomarker of Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Led by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) · Updated on 2026-01-26
200
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
648 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Mirror Neuron Network Dysfunction as an Early Biomarker of Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults aged 18 to 65 at study entry
- Adults must be healthy and in good condition based on medical history and physical exam
- Infants aged 9 months plus or minus 2 weeks at consent
- Infants must be healthy and in good condition based on medical history and physical exam
- Infants must have age-appropriate development as reported by parents and exam
- Infants must be full term at birth
- Infants must have normal weight for gestational age
- At-risk infants aged 12 months plus or minus 2 weeks at consent
- At-risk infants must have at least one: developmental delay, sibling with autism, premature birth, or small for gestational age
You will not qualify if you...
- Adults with uncorrected hearing problems
- Adults with uncorrected vision problems
- Adults with head injury causing loss of consciousness
- Adults unable to provide consent
- Adults with conditions posing unacceptable risk as judged by investigator
- Infants who do not speak English as primary language at home
- Infants with medical impairments interfering with participation such as g-tube, shunt, seizure disorder, or inability to hold head upright
- Infants with known visual impairment
- Infants with known hearing impairment
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Maria J Ayoub, Ph.D.
CONTACT
A
Amir H Gandjbakhche, Ph.D.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
3
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