Department of Radiology Clinical Studies

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Multimodal Imaging in Autism

The purpose of this study is to understand how children’s brains process sounds and language. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual and Developmental Delay (IDD), or Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) often have trouble understanding sounds that are too close together compared to Typically Developing Controls (children without ASD, IDD, or DLD). Fast changes in speech can be hard for children. This may be awkward during conversations and difficult in social situations. This research will see if trouble with processing sounds contributes to language difficulties in children with ASD, IDD, and/or DLD.

Assessing Optically Pumped Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

The goal for this study is to compare performance between a conventional helium based “Cryo_MEG” (magnetoencephalography) system and an investigational optically pumped (‘OP_MEG’) MEG system using brain recordings from typically developing adults. MEG (magnetoencephalography) is a safe, non-invasive brain imaging method used in many forms of research as well as clinical care. MEG is measured by safely wearing a helmet filled with MEG sensors. During the MEG scan, you will be asked to look at a screen, listen to some tones, and push a button. OPM (Optically Pumped Magnetometry), is a brain imaging method that is also worn as a helmet and acquires MEG recording data but differs from conventional “cryo-MEG” because OPM sensors can be positioned closer to the head. This may present an opportunity for better measurement of underlying brain activity.