Children between the ages of two and eight who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, are sought for a research study at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC).
According to Dr. Mark Jaime, assistant professor of psychology in the Division of Science, the study will gather information about the social development of infants and children.
“The project will collect first-person information about sensations felt during movement,” explained Jaime, who joined the IUPUC faculty last year. “We will pay special attention to how sensory feedback produced during self-generated movement impacts self-awareness. The information is important for understanding healthy social development in infants and children because they learn to connect with their parents, siblings, and others through experiencing their own actions.”
Jaime’s long-term goal is to extend the theoretical framework on the origins of autism so that better screening methods can be developed for at-risk infants. He and his student research assistants will explore the cognitive processes that play a role in social impairment, a marked characteristic among children diagnosed with autism.
The study requires a parent and child to make one 60-minute visit to the Division of Science’s newly established perceptual development lab, where the child will be asked to perform a fun task during which he or she makes simple movements, like jumping up and down while wearing a small action camera. The child may also be asked to make hand movements while
they are seen through delayed videos, which will be played back to see if the child recognizes his or her own actions.
“Parents will be present during the visit and will be asked to complete surveys about their child’s development,” Jaime said, adding that all participants will receive a free pass to the Columbus Kids Commons before they leave.
A recent $1,000 gift from the Hazel Teegarden Foundation is supporting Jaime’s research by offsetting some of the costs associated with the project and obtaining needed equipment. “We are grateful for their support as we work to help improve the lives of children in the autism community through research,” he said.
Jaime says autism spectrum disorder is a complex, lifelong disorder with high symptom variability. Research suggests ASD likely results from an interaction between environmental factors and gene-regulated brain development, with its origins beginning during prenatal development.
Despite decades of research, Jaime says an important question remains unanswered: If ASD has its origins in prenatal development, what do these deficits look like from birth and into early infancy?
“To alleviate the impact of ASD, we must better understand its development as early as possible in infancy. Early identification, however, is a complex task which requires a better scientific understanding of how infants and young children develop perceptually and cognitively,” he concluded. “This study could help us shed light on that.”
Parents who want to learn more about how their children can participate in the study, may contact Jaime at mjaime@iupuc.edu or call 812.348.7236. Visit iupuc.edu/perceptual-development for links to resources and information about autism.