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Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS)

To improve early detection and identify the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at an earlier age.

The goal of the IBIS study is to identify the symptoms of autism at an earlier age. You and your infant will travel to MIDB at 6-, 12-, and 24-months of age for developmental testing and an MRI during natural sleep. You may also participate in an optional LENA language recording at 6-, 12-, and 18-months of age. Your family will be reimbursed for all travel related expenses and compensated for participating. Your family will also complete online questionnaires at 9- and 18-months of age with compensation.

One of the goals of our research in the CNS Lab is to improve early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent numbers suggest that 1 in 31 children are diagnosed with ASD. In Minnesota, the ASD prevalence rate is higher, with about 1 in 28 children diagnosed with ASD. While the average age of diagnosis is 4 years old, children can start showing early signs of ASD as young as 6 months old. Moreover, families who have one child with ASD have an increased likelihood of having another child with ASD. Early detection of autism and access to early intervention services is crucial to improving long-term outcomes for these children.

The CNS Lab is a proud member of the IBIS (Infant Brain Imaging Study) Network. The IBIS Network is a consortium of researchers across North America that use a combination of behavioral testing, parent interviews, MRI brain imaging, and EEG to uncover important clues about infant development that can aid in early detection of ASD. Previous research by the IBIS network on infants with older siblings with autism found that MRI brain scans of infants as early as 6 months old can accurately predict later ASD diagnoses.

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Developmental Areas