Baby Brain & Behavior Study at The Waisman Center

Where are the visits for the 24-month assessment?

The MRI visit at 24-months occurs at the Waisman Center (1500 Highland Ave, Madison WI 53705). The Behavioral visit at 24-months occurs at the Brogden Psychology Building (1202 W Johnson St, Madison WI 53706).

My child is a difficult sleeper (light sleeper, difficult to get to sleep), will this work?

Some parents feel that their toddler’s bedtime habits will prevent the session from being a success, and while there are some children at 2 years of age that have difficult bedtime routines, we find that being patient and flexible usually leads to success.

My child is used to sleeping in a crib, bed, etc., can you accommodate him/her?

We know that 2-year-olds have very different sleeping arrangements. We are happy to modify our nursery so it best fits your child’s needs. We have a variety of bedding options, including a crib, toddler bed, Pack N Play, or even a mattress on the floor. We can arrange for you to be in the room as your child falls asleep, or you can leave the room based on your typical bedtime routine.

What should I do if I skip a day during saliva collection (e.g., forgot a sample, my child refused)?

If for some reason you happen to miss a sample during saliva collection, you can always collect the sample on a “4th day.” Just collect the sample the next day at the appropriate time, and make sure to make a note on the saliva collection log. If you happen to miss an entire day, just pick up where you left off the following date.

If it is too difficult to complete a whole day’s worth of saliva, we have found that the morning sample is the most informative. Therefore, if you can only do one sample a day we would greatly appreciate collecting the morning samples.

My child refuses to chew on the sample straw at 24 months for saliva collection, what should I do?

You can always move the sample to the following day (see previous FAQ) and see if that works better. You can also time the sample so it occurs before having a snack. Knowing your child will get a snack will help increase saliva so they do not need to chew on it very long. Even if they only get it in their mouths for a brief time, send the samples in - they pick up more than you expect.

I have older/younger children that I cannot leave home or alone during the 24-month assessment visits; can I bring them to the visits?

Absolutely! We have additional staff or undergraduate research assistants who are happy to watch your other children during the visits. For the MRI visit, we have access to a separate room where your other children can sleep if needed.

Who is doing this study?

The Baby Brain & Behavior Project  is directed by Professor Richard Davidson, Ph.D., and other renowned faculty and staff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

What are you studying?

The purpose of our research is to learn more about how very early experiences influence the developing brain and impact child well-being.

How can I participate in this study?

Please note that we are no longer accepting participants. Thank you for your interest.

Will I be paid for study participation?

Families are paid for each phase of the project, and a bonus is paid for families who complete all phases. Payments total up to $630 over the course of the entire study, which ends when the child is 24 months old. Participation is completely voluntary and you can withdraw from research at any time.

How long will the study last?

Each family will participate for approximately two years. This includes four visits to the Waisman Center, one telephone interview, and online questionnaires. Your participation will be about 15 hours total over two years and you are compensated for your time. Sessions generally take 2-3 hours.

How do you decide who you want to follow up?

We have study criteria we have to meet. If we have more participants who meet criteria than we can run in a month, participants are randomly selected.

When will the cord blood be collected?

After our research staff receive your consent in the mail, a cord blood collection kit will be mailed to you. When you arrive at the hospital for delivery, the kit can be given to your nurse. Once the cord is cut, blood will be collected from the placental side of the cord by medical staff shortly after birth. Research staff will collect the cord blood from the hospital staff that day.

What if I choose to have delayed cord clamping or personal cord blood banking, will there be enough for research?

After delayed cord clamping and/or personal cord blood banking there is usually enough cord blood left over for research collection.

What will the cord blood be used for?

A few select families will have stem cells developed from their sample to look at cellular differences in the brain.

Will I be able to retrieve my cord blood if I need it in the future?

Due to research standards, cord blood collected cannot be accessed by contributing families. If you would like to have access to cord blood in the future, there are personal cord blood banking options available through private businesses.

Is MRI like an X-ray or CT scan?

No, X-rays and CT scans use ionizing radiation to create an image. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) does not use ionizing radiation. Instead, MRI uses a strong static magnetic field and radio-waves (similar to those of an FM radio) to make images of the brain. There is no known health effect associated with strong static magnetic fields.

What can I expect during the MRI visit?

When your child is approximately 1 month old, you will be asked to come to the Waisman Center for an MRI scan of your child’s brain while he or she naps. The MRI suite has a rocking chair and very soft lighting. Once your child is fully asleep, you (and/or a researcher, depending on your preference) will gently place your child onto a warmed bed that fits comfortably in the MRI scanner and the scan will begin. You may stand next to your child or be seated nearby. One of our researchers will also stand next to your child to monitor sleep by keeping a hand the child's foot or stomach the whole time. The total scan time will take 40 minutes. You are free to stop the procedures at any time you choose. In the case of a baby waking or crying, we will stop the scan and our staff will discuss with you what portion of the study was completed and decide if the scan will be rescheduled. In most cases, babies who wake a little will fall back into a deeper sleep after a few minutes. If necessary, your child can be removed from the scanner in less than 5 seconds. Your time at the Waisman Center usually takes between 2 and 3 hours, depending on factors such as how long it takes your child to fall asleep.

For more details on the 1 month MRI visit please take a look at this PDF file.

BBB_InfantMRI

Can I be in the scanner room during the scan?

Absolutely! We will pre-screen you for MRI safety (i.e. no metal implants, pacemakers, etc.) If all is clear from the MRI screening, we encourage you to be in the scanner room along with you child.

Why do you image my infant while they are napping?

Just as taking pictures of a moving object causes blurry photos, moving during an MRI scan also causes blurry images. By imaging infants while they sleep, we can be sure they will stay still for the scan.

Do you use sedation to put my child to sleep?

No! We schedule scans during normal nap or sleep time. We have a private room where your child can relax and fall asleep. After they are asleep for 10 minutes, we will move your child into the scanner.

How loud is the MRI machine? Will my baby be comfortable?

We use padded headphones and earplugs to protect your baby’s ears. Undampened MRI sound levels range between 126-131dB,but the sound your baby hears while wearing the headphones and earplugs is similar to the hum of a refrigerator running.

How is confidentiality protected?

We will do everything we can to keep others from hearing about your participation in the research. A code number, not your name or other personal information, will be used to identify you in the study. Additionally, all forms and study materials that contain identifying information will be locked in file drawers and accessible only to authorized research staff.

If I decide to withdraw, will my medical care be affected in any way?

Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary and you may choose to withdraw from the study at any time without prejudice to your present or future relationship to the University of Wisconsin and with no effect on any services or medical care you may be currently receiving.

What if I have other children that need to be cared for during Waisman Center visits?

On-site child care accommodations are provided by research staff. This includes supplies such as diapers and toys.

How will I get to the Center? Where can I park?

Free visitor parking is available immediately outside the Waisman Center in the blue stalls. Madison Metro bus also has several main routes that stop at the Waisman Center. If you do not have transportation, we can provide taxi service. For more detailed information about all of these options, please go to our Contact Us page.

Is this study affiliated with other Waisman Center studies?

No, the Baby Brain & Behavior Project is not affiliated with any other studies. Your participation in this project is completely separate and we do not share information or data between projects.