During my time in the Babylab, I have worked on a longitudinal research project examining how the gut microbiome influences infant brain and social development over the first 14 months of life.

I assisted in data collection from over 100 infant-mother dyads. Specifically, I gained proficiency in collecting infant behavioral data using Tobii eyetracking software and neuroimaging data using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). In addition, I assisted in the behavioral coding of mother-infant free play sessions and standardized attention coding for pre-processing of fNIRS data.

Eye Tracking

Testing Attentional Bias to Threat

Infants eye movements are tracked as they are shown two faces on the screen, one with a neutral composure and one with a emotional composure.

Their eye tracking is coded for both the location and duration of focus, using Tobii eyetracking software.

fNIRS

Testing Neural Response to Threat

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) projects infrared light beams toward the brain, harmless to the body. Sensors adjacent to the light beams take readings on the light that passes through and measure the rate of light deflection to detect hemodynamic (change in the oxygen content of the blood) response over time.

This is similar to EEG in the fact that a cap containing a series of sensors is placed on the infant’s head, but fNIRS does not require gel.

The similarity to fMRI is why fNIRS is an excellent way to compare adult and infant brains.

Free Play

Emotional Behavior Score

Five minutes of free play between mom and baby is observed and behaviorally coded, with standardized toys and environment.