Kids! - Turk-Browne Lab

An exciting line of research in the lab is exploring how the brain develops. We are able to peer into your child’s mind to understand how they see, learn, remember, and think — information that would be hard for them to express otherwise.

The technique we use, functional magnetic resonance imaging (or fMRI), is safe and has been used in numerous studies with infants and children.

Please read the information below about our projects and team, and feel free to consult the FAQ. If you would like to learn more about how your child can participate, sign up here.

Yale HIC #2000022470

Projects

Team

Ariadne Letrou, Project Coordinator

Ariadne’s first word was “Kitty” — a mispronunciation of the word “Kriti,” which means “Crete” in Greek. Ariadne is bilingual in Greek and English.

Sheri Choi, Researcher

Sheri grew up in Korea and is nostalgic for foods from her childhood. Now, Sheri grows Korean vegetables (and more) from garden beds that she built from scratch.

Lillian Behm, Researcher

Lily grew up next to at animal hospital where her mother was a veterinarian. Ironically, she is allergic to most animals, so she always knew she wanted to work with people instead!

Juliana Trach, Researcher

Juliana has always been a big animal lover! She creatively named her first dog “Chase” when she was one year old because he loved to chase the birds in the yard all day.

Tristan Yates, Researcher

Tristan has always been a creative problem-solver. Once, she tried to get away with not cleaning up the playroom by putting a sign on the door warning of “huge scary bugs” in there.

Nick Turk-Browne, Lab Director

When Nick was born, his name was Dylan at first. He often wonders what his life would have been like with such a cool name.

FAQ

How does fMRI work?

fMRI uses a powerful magnet to measure the location of activity in the brain. When neurons in an area of the brain become active, oxygenated blood rushes in to re-energize them. This can be detected because oxygenated and deoxygenated blood have different magnetic properties.

What’s the point of the research?

Psychology and Neuroscience have shed light on many mysteries of how the adult brain works, but we know much less about how the brain develops all of its remarkable powers. This is because there has been relatively little research on brain function early in life. The aim of the current research is to fill in this gap, by using fMRI to understand how infants and young children see, remember, and think about the world, and in turn how these cognitive abilities change as they get older.

What happens during the study?

The study will involve your child lying on a table watching movies or sequences of images in an fMRI scanner, while we capture images of their brain and watch their eye movements. You will be right next to your child the whole time, and there will be regular opportunities to pause and communicate with them. We take many steps to make sure your child is comfortable and having fun throughout the study.

What equipment do you use?

We primarily use a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance image machine made by Siemens (Prisma model), which you can see below. Other equipment includes a mock scanner, projector, and eye-tracker.

How long does the visit last?

Visits will typically last up to 2 hours and you will be with your child the entire time. The time in the scanner will be approximately 1 hour, but our main priority is making sure you and your child have a positive experience, so we can end whenever you want. We will allow plenty of time for questions, explanations, and practice.

What is a mock scanner?

A mock scanner is the MRI scanner without the magnet. We want you and your child to be completely comfortable in the MRI scanner, so we use the mock scanner to practice what it feels, sounds, and looks like. We can demonstrate the study procedures with a teddy bear and then your child can try it.

Is fMRI safe for my child?

fMRI is a safe research tool that has been used for more than two decades, including many studies in infants and children. Unlike other imaging technologies, fMRI does not involve ionizing radiation, and thus can be performed repeatedly (the research team has had dozens of scans themselves). Nevertheless, there are some important safety considerations that we take great care to address, such as protecting your child’s hearing from the noise that the scanner makes and carefully checking that they don’t have metal on or in their body. There are also some circumstances that would preclude participation: for example, a history of surgery, neurological disease, head injury, or hearing impairment. Prior to participation, we will carry out extensive screening to make sure you and your child qualify.

What can I do to prepare for the visit?

The most important preparation is for your child to be healthy, rested, and fed prior to the visit. We have a private, kid-friendly waiting room that can be used by nursing mothers. If your child has not been feeling well at any time in the week before you visit, we will reschedule to another time.

Can I stay with my child during the fMRI scan?

Yes, a parent will be with the child at all times. They play an essential role in the success of the research, by helping make the child feel comfortable and by providing information about what the child likes. The parent will also need to complete safety screening prior to participation.

What will we gain from participating in this research?

You might draw satisfaction from the knowledge that the results of this study have the potential to improve our understanding of how the growing mind and brain work. This could have consequences for childhood education and the diagnosis and treatment of developmental disorders. Additionally, you will be compensated for your time while participating and any travel costs you may incur. The rate will be $10/hour for aspects of the study outside of the fMRI scanner, and $20/hour for time spent inside the fMRI scanner. You may also request a copy of the scans for your personal reference. We will give your child a token of appreciation, such as a toy or book. We will also send you a 3-D print of your child’s brain, if we are able to collect an anatomical image of sufficient quality.