Baby Brain & Behavior Study at The Waisman Center

For Families

Enrolling Pregnant Women:

• 18 to 40 Years Old

• Not expecting Multiples

• Less than 28 weeks

 

There are two major phases of the study, one before you give birth and one after. During the first phase, our goal is to survey as many pregnant women as we can to learn about their experiences during pregnancy. The second phase will include a smaller number of families and we will ask to follow up with them several times during their baby's first two years of life. Activies like saliva sampling, an fMRI while the infant is sleeping, and a behavioral assessment will take place at different times, around one month old, six months old, one year old, and two years old. See table below.

You may be invited to participate in any or all of the following portions of the study. Your participation is voluntary. Visits take place at the Waisman Center in Madison, WI. Families who complete all study phases are compensated up to $680 total for participation over two years’ time.

<28 weeks	Enroll:self enroll online First Phase Questionnaire:take online
3rd Trimester	Second Phase Questionnaire: take online Collection of saliva sample from mother: done at home Cord Blood Collection: collected by medical staff after delivery
1 Month Old	Questionnaires: take online Infant MRI during sleep: visit at the Waisman Center for an fMRI scan which is done while your baby naps
6 Months Old	Questionnaires: take online Behavioral observation: visit at the Waisman Center for an observation session Collection of saliva sample from infant: done during Waisman visit
12 Months Old	Questionnaires: take online Interview with mother: interview at the Waisman Center
18 Months Old	Questionnaires: take online Collection of saliva samples from mother: done at home
24 Months Old	Questionnaires: take online Toddler fMRI session: visit at the Waisman Center Toddler behavioral observation: visit at the Brogden Psychology building Collection of saliva sample from infant: done during Waisman visit and at home

 

*The protection of your confidentiality and privacy is a top priority for us. Contact information is used solely for contacting participants regarding research participation. We do not release contact information to anyone. Identifiable family information (names and contact information) and research data are stored separately and are accessible only to research staff.

MRI Information

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a neuroimaging procedure that uses magnets and radio waves to measure brain circuitry and activity during rest. Measurements of active brain areas are collected by detecting associated changes in blood flow. MRI has been used by over 400 million patients and research participants worldwide. It does not involve any radiation and is noninvasive.