What is this research about?
The goal of this research is to examine brain activity patterns of infants engaging in natural play behaviors between the ages of 9-13 months old.
How can my infant participate?
If you choose to participate with your infant, your infant will engage in a play session with their caregiver (you!) while wearing a lightweight wireless fNIRS (functional near infrared spectroscopy) cap that shines light onto the infant’s scalp to measure brain activity. High-speed video cameras will be used to record the play session.
Why might I want my infant to participate?
The results of this research aim to develop a novel system of classifying natural infant behavior using non-invasive optical brain imaging. This research will be valuable for informing the development of biomedical technologies as well as rehabilitative therapies to help children with disability/injury learn how to produce the neural activity needed to control their own bodies more effectively in their day-to-day life.
Are there any exclusion criteria?
We are currently seeking 9-13 month-old infants. To be eligible to participate in this study, participants must be able to wear a neoprene cap directly on the head such that it touches the hair and scalp.
What does participation entail?
The entirety of the experiment may take up to 60 minutes, including paperwork and consent forms, the set-up and completion of experimental task, and a final debriefing. Each baby may repeatedly participate in up to 9 different play sessions across a 9-month time period, if they wish. Participation is completely voluntary and babies and their caregivers can withdraw from the study at any time.
Upon arriving for the experiment:
- The parent will read and sign the informed consent form.
- The parent will complete a short survey concerning the infant’s medical history.
- The infant will then be fitted with the fNIRS cap on their head.
- The experimental procedure will then be explained to parents.
- The infant will be seated in a comfortable chair engaging in naturalistic behavior (e.g. playing with various toys/or snacks) with their parent nearby. At no time will the parent be asked to leave the room.
- Caregivers will receive $40.00 per play session to offset costs associated with participating.
Where will the study take place?
The experiment will take place in the Child Research space on the 2nd floor of the Early Childhood Education Centre at Thompson Rivers University. Please park in the EC parking lot in one of the two parking spaces that are reserved for “Guests of the Children and the Law Laboratory”. Enter the building through Entrance 2 and go up the stairs to the immediate right to the waiting area outside of the lab. The researcher will meet you there.
Address: 1247 McGill Rd., Kamloops, BC., V2C 6N9
How can I sign-up to participate?
You can sign up by filling out this form and one of our experimenters will reach out to you and set up a time-slot for you to come into the lab and participate.
Contact
Please reach out with any and all questions, or to sign up to participate.
Research Assistant:
- Amira Jensen
- Phone: (778)-551-0271
- Email: Jensenn19@mytru.ca
Research Assistant:
- Nisa Hofer
- Phone: (250)-685-8180
- Email: hofern18@mytru.ca