Brain imaging for cognitive and executive function - Healthy Volunteer

STUDY BASICS

Is your infant less than 1 year old? Was your child born at greater than 37 weeks gestation and has no known medical conditions? You and your child may be eligible to participate in an infant brain imaging research study looking at how cognitive function develops over the first year of postnatal life.

STUDY PURPOSE

The purpose of the study is to determine how infant’s brain activity changes while watching a movie designed to be engaging. Additionally, mothers will complete questionnaires designed to capture information about their life, such as diet or stress. We will relate questionnaire data to brain activity with the goal of developing interventions to improve cognitive function.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Potentially eligible participants:

• Infants who are under 1 year and their mothers
• Born greater than 37 weeks gestation
• No congenital heart disease
• No focal neurological abnormality
• No chronic seizures
• No severe congenital brain malformation
• No significant chromosomal abnormality/syndrome
• No sepsis
• No history of ECMO
• No significant birth trauma and/or hypoxic ischemic injury
• No major pregnancy complication (diabetes, eclampsia)
• English spoken at home

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

The study includes questionnaires that are filled out by the mother and one MRI scan for the infant. Questionnaires will measure various lifestyle factors, such as mental health, diet, and the environment a child lives in. Mothers will be given questionnaires prior to the MRI appointment and may complete questionnaires during or after the MRI appointment. Infants will participate in one MRI scan where they will watch child-appropriate movies, and we will record brain activity. MRI is a safe way to take a picture of the brain and does not have any radiation. With setup time, the MRI scan will take approximately one hour.