Social Brain Interaction Study (Ages 5-12)

STUDY BASICS

Does your child have an Autism Spectrum Disorder and is age 5-12? If so, you and your child may be able to participate in a research study to find out how your brains work together while you interact. Parents and children will wear a safe and painless device that measures brain activity. Compensation provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to look at how brains interact during social situations and find out how this process differs in people with autism spectrum disorder.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD?

• Child aged 5-12 who has been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Child must be able to communicate verbally
• Parent willing to participate

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Participation includes one visit to Oakland that will take about 1-2 hours. Researchers will use a non-invasive optical imaging called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to look at how parents’ and children’s brains work together while they participate in a variety of interactive tasks. The fNIRS device includes a headband or hat (similar to a swim cap) that measures activity in the front part of the brain. fNIRS is safe and painless. A second part of the study will monitor your child’s speech for a few days in your home. Your child will wear a small device called the Language Environment Analysis System (LENA) that uses speech recognition technology. The LENA will be collected by the study team when participants have completed the study.