Imaging measurement of early brain development (I-MED study) V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Novel biomarkers in infants: developing optical imaging solutions for the measurement of early vocal brain development
IRAS ID
167659
Contact name
Chen Zhao
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Infant vocal development (using the voice and reacting to voices) is essential for later speech and language acquisition. Moreover, an abnormally developed vocal ability (problems with speaking and/or understanding) is related to later social and behavioural problems and an increased risk of mental health problems. As mothers are usually the main caregivers to babies and children, their caregiving sensitivity (maternal sensitivity) during interaction with their infants has deep implications for child development and may predict later childhood language developmental outcomes.
This study will focus on learning about the blood flow in the brain when stimulated by different sounds and voices, and developing a method to study and monitor brain patterns related to the care a mother gives. This methodology (a) can acceptably and feasibly be applied in routine clinical settings; (b) will help to identify differences in the brain between normal and abnormal vocal development; (c) will show how the brain can be affected by the behaviour of the mother. We will examine mothers’ maternal sensitivity and the neural processing of vocal information in infants from 6 to 18 months old. The acceptability and feasibility of the methodology and the link between maternal sensitivity and infant voice neural processing will be assessed.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0684
Date of REC Opinion
14 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion