Do you have a new baby? You can help by joining our study.
Understanding how a baby develops language is essential to improving resources and care. CAPRI-Voc is a study investigating the development of language recognition in infants.
If you join our study, we’ll look at how your baby responds to voices and sounds with a fun system that uses safe and comfortable equipment.
Who can take part?
All mums are invited to take part in our research.
We are especially keen to find mums who have tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy.
You and your baby will take part together.
If you are unsure whether or not you would be suitable for this study, please contact us. We would be very happy to guide you through our process and provide further information.
If you would like to take part please click on the Sign Up link below and complete our sign-up survey.
“The study is very interesting. It’s really lovely to see your child develop. Even though we don’t get the results directly, it’s fun to see how your child has improved between the 9-month and 12-month sessions.”
Mum, age 28
Why take part?
Our mums have had wonderful experiences and have enjoyed engaging in areas of research where they felt they were able to help improve the continuity of care for their little ones.
In one study alone, we have already assessed more than 100 babies. By taking part in this study, you will help us understand how a baby’s brain development may be influenced by time and by other factors.
CAPRI-Voc is part of a wider research initiative to improve the social lives and development of children and adolescents with parental mental illness.
Compensation for taking part
Travel expenses are covered, and you will also be paid for your time and inconvenience.
At the end of the 2 sessions you will be compensated for your time and effort.
“I’ve really enjoyed giving back to other people in this small way. I’ve felt like I have made a difference by participating.”
Mum, age 34
What is involved?
Taking part in our study is a straightforward and positive experience for our mums and their babies. You will take part in an interview and two assessment sessions with your baby, all supported by our experienced researchers.
Please read our Participant Information Sheet for more information about our research using the link below.
Questionnaire and interview
Check medical records
We will ask you to provide us with access to your medical records so that we can document your post-natal health and treatments accurately.
We will also ask you for access to your child’s personal health record or ‘Little Red Book’ so that we can record your baby’s growth charts and medical history.
Assessments
The study involves assessments at two sessions. We meet up for these at a location of your choice (see the section below) when your baby is around 9 and 12 months old.
We use state-of-the-art imaging techniques and developmental assessments to measure brain responses to voice sounds.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide individual information on brain scans because they are only measured together as a group across all participants in the research.
Where we meet
We can conduct the sessions at our dedicated research facility at The University of Manchester or we can use a local health centre or outpatient facility, or even come to your home.
We want to meet you in a setting where you are most comfortable, so please let us know what location best suits you.
Sometimes it is upsetting to talk through personal history or current feelings, and this is a very normal response. All of our researchers are highly trained and will support you if this is the case, allowing you as much time as you need when talking through these aspects of the study.
You can choose to stop taking part in the study at any time.
Timeline of activities
Prior to first session
~
- Short questionnaires for mum
Session 1
(9 months old)
- Chat with mum
- fNIRS (scanning with baby on mum’s knee)
- Video of mum and baby playing
Session 2
(12 months old)
- fNIRS (scanning with baby on mum’s knee)
- Development assessment (known as the ‘Bayley-III’
“It’s been a really easy experience because they were able to come to my home for each visit. I was nervous about the fNIRS scan at first, but the team is very professional and the fNIRS system is actually not scary at all.”
Mum, age 31
Our approach
So far, all our mums have given us great feedback and have enjoyed helping our research and the experience for their babies.
We use a common set of assessment methods. They are all safe and well established. We make sure the assessments are conducted in a relaxed and fun way – for both mum and baby.
Bayley’s-III developmental assessment
These are fun, standardised series of measurements to assess your baby’s language skills.
We will provide several toys for baby to play with, as well as assess language development where developmentally appropriate.
Video recordings
We record video for two different assessment methods.
Mum and baby playing
We will ask you to play with your child for about 10 minutes while we video record this activity. We will provide toys and a play mat.
The video recordings are used to measure the interaction between you and your baby. Videos and images will not be shown publicly or used in publications. They are for research purposes only.
You may choose not to be videoed during the mum and baby play assessment if you want.
fNIRS
We record your child during the fNIRS scan so we can note any movement that may alter the data.
This video is essential, so a recording is needed for you to take part in the study.
We want you to be comfortable with the recording process the entire time, so please be aware that you are free to stop the recording at any time.
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
What is fNIRS?
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive way to record brain responses.
When neurons in our brain are active, we need a fast supply of blood flow to those tissues. Our equipment detects these small changes in blood flow by shining light onto the scalp.
fNIRS has been safely applied on thousands of infants. It is a common tool in neonatal and intensive care units. There are no side effects associated with fNIRS.
What is involved?
Your baby will sit on your lap during the session – you will be with your baby the entire time. We will place a soft cap on your baby’s head. Your baby will listen to some sounds (human voices, non-human sounds) and watch a few cartoon clips while their brain responses will be quietly collected.
The cap placed on your baby’s head is made from soft material and will be positioned comfortably on their head.
We can stop the session at any time you or your baby feels uncomfortable, or you think your baby may need a break.
Our team
Find out about the project lead and the two key researchers who will work with participating mums and babies.
Professor Kathryn M Abel, Principal Investigator
Kathryn is the Founder and Lead of the first UK Centre for Women’s Mental Health (CWMH). She currently collaborates in over 15 research projects with important research partnerships in 3 Scandinavian countries, two major Australian centres and two centres in the United States.
Alessandra Piatti
Alessandra is a primary school teacher and a neuroscientist. She has been using fNIRS with infants and toddlers since 2015.
She has two children, who have always tried out her studies before she’s invited any other children to take part.
Contact us
Please contact the researchers by email.
Email: CAPRI@manchester.ac.uk
