Infant Development Research Study
Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine are conducting a study on infant brain development and early behavior to better understand how anxiety develops later in life.
Fast Facts
Parent of an infant aged 10-16 months
Infant was born full-term (>37 weeks)
Compensation
provided up to $465
Conducted in
NYC
Study Background
This study looks at how early brain development and temperament in infancy may be linked to anxiety as children grow.
Anxiety often begins early in life, but scientists still do not fully understand why some children develop anxiety while others do not. By studying babies during the first years of life, researchers can learn how early differences in brain development and behavior may play a role in later emotional health.
The Brain and Infant Behavior Study follows infants over time and uses safe, non-invasive brain imaging along with behavioral observations and parent questionnaires. Babies are scanned while naturally asleep, and parents stay with their child during behavioral visits. What we learn from this research may help identify early signs of anxiety risk and support the development of earlier interventions for children and families.
Study Background
This study looks at how early brain development and temperament in infancy may be linked to anxiety as children grow.
Anxiety often begins early in life, but scientists still do not fully understand why some children develop anxiety while others do not. By studying babies during the first years of life, researchers can learn how early differences in brain development and behavior may play a role in later emotional health.
The Brain and Infant Behavior Study follows infants over time and uses safe, non-invasive brain imaging along with behavioral observations and parent questionnaires. Babies are scanned while naturally asleep, and parents stay with their child during behavioral visits. What we learn from this research may help identify early signs of anxiety risk and support the development of earlier interventions for children and families.
Additional Information
This study is being done to better understand where anxiety comes from and how early brain development and temperament may influence emotional health later in childhood.
You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Parent of an infant aged 10-16 months
- Infant was born full-term (>37 weeks)
- Infant does not have a parent or sibling with autism, intellectual disability, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, any other neurodevelopmental disorder or developmental delay
- Infant hears English more than 50% of the time
- Infant does not have a contraindication to MRI – has metal in or on their body that cannot be removed (e.g., some implants, piercings, etc.)
- Infant did not have a birth weight of less than 5.5 pounds
- Pregnancy or birth did not have severe complications
If you choose to participate:
You will complete a brief phone screening with the research team.
When your baby is between 12 and 16 months old, you will attend two in-person visits:
A 60-minute daytime visit where your baby plays with new toys and meets research staff while parents remain in the room.
A 4–6 hour nighttime MRI visit is scheduled around your baby’s sleep schedule, where brain images are taken while your baby naturally enters deep sleep.
You will complete online questionnaires sent by the study team.
You may be invited back for follow-up behavioral visits when your child is 2 and 3 years old.
We do not provide actual cash for payments. We reimburse participants using ClinCards, which function like gift cards. Participants may receive up to $465.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.