Innovations in Neurodevelopmental Sensory Processing Research (insp!re)
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
Director: Grace Baranek PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Led by Grace Baranek, the Innovations in Neurodevelopmental Sensory Processing Research (insp!re) lab is a multidisciplinary team of researchers, students, post-doctoral fellows and volunteers committed to advancing our knowledge of early risk signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related neurodevelopmental disorders. We believe that true innovation occurs at the intersection between science, creativity and technology. We partner with local artists, engineers, clinicians and families to employ cutting-edge methods and technologies to design novel multimodal screening tools, including parent-report and biobehavioral measures, for pediatric community settings. We are also developing efficacious interventions for caregivers and infants to optimize development in social-communication, sensory reactivity and regulation, and overall engagement in daily routines such as play and mealtime.
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Brain Activity and Behavioral Indicators of Sensory Processing (BABeIS) ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
Infant participant wearing EEG cap in the insp!re lab Sensory hyper- and hypo-reactivity are core features of autism, often evident early in infancy, however, the neurophysiological mechanisms behind these behaviors are not well understood. Sensory discrimination, which refers to the ability to…
Period: Jul 2025 – Jun 2027
Federal Funding $161,972
Screening for Autism Risk in Preterm Infants (SARP) ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
Young participant in the insp!re lab SARP is a longitudinal study examining early signs of autism in preterm infants, 6 -18 months adjusted age. Families are recruited through the high-risk infant follow-up clinic at LA General Medical Center and are seen during their well-child check appointments.…
Start: Jan 2019
Sensory and Social Development in Infants and Toddlers (SASI) ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
Young participant plays with a ball in the insp!re lab SASI is a longitudinal study which aims to understand individual differences in social and sensory development in typically developing and high-risk infants and toddlers. This study examines these domains through behavioral and physiological…
Southern California Child Development Survey (SoCal CDS) ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
SoCal CDS is a survey study examining children’s development from 6 to 16 months of age in domains such as social communication and sensory regulation. We are recruiting families from communities within the greater Los Angeles area to collect normative data on a diverse population. Participants…
Moving Beyond the Average: Building a Comprehensive Model of Classroom Quality that Incorporates Children’s Individual Experiences ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
The goal of this project is to explore how individual children's engagement varies within classrooms and the degree to which variation in child engagement is associated with children's outcomes. Specifically, the research team aims to (i) evaluate the degree to which the average engagement of…
Period: Sep 2020 – Jul 2022
Federal Funding $37,648
Early Behavioral Characteristics and Biobehavioral Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Novel Parent-Infant Interaction Paradigm ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
This pilot study will examine biobehavioral synchrony during mother-child interactions associated with infants’ at-risk status for later diagnosis of ASD. The findings will provide insights into the relationship between the patterns of the synchrony and early behavioral risk markers of ASD…
Period: Nov 2018 – Aug 2020
Intramural Funding $25,000
First Years Inventory (FYI) Pilot Study to Culturally Diverse Populations in Los Angeles ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
Young participant plays with blocks in the insp!re lab This study aims to add new data to our team’s ongoing research to identify early risk markers of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and develop better screening tools for infants in the general population. In our previous study in North Carolina,…
Period: Nov 2018 – Aug 2020
Private Funding $3,000
Parents and Infants Engaged (PIE) ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
The PIE study is a “proof of concept” evaluation of PIE, an intervention for infants at-risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. This study is a two-site collaboration at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) and the University of Southern California (USC Chan Division). It examines…
Period: Aug 2017 – Jul 2020
Federal Funding $79,172
Evaluation of a Novel Intervention for Infants at Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
This project aims to develop and test a parent coaching model for increasing awareness of sensory modulation and communication functions to increase social engagement for infants at-risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a community sample. Our current ability to detect infants at-risk for…
Period: Aug 2017 – Jul 2020
Federal Funding $79,172
Parent-Infant Engaged: Extension Pilot Study to Culturally Diverse Populations in Los Angeles ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
This study aims to develop more culturally sensitive early screening tool to identify early risk markers of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for ethnic minority infants in the general population. The First Years Inventory (FYI; Baranek et al., 2013) is a newly revised screener that has been normed…
Period: Nov 2018 – May 2020
Intramural Funding $3,000
Parent-Infant Physiology Study (PIPS) ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
insp!re team watch a young participant playing in the lab This pilot study examines the relationship between biobehavioral synchrony during mother-infant interactions and early developmental outcomes. The study aims to understand individual differences in behavioral and physiological patterns of…
Period: Nov 2018 – Mar 2020
Intramural Funding $25,000
Interdisciplinary Leadership in ASD: Optimizing Research-Practice Partnerships for Evidence-Based Outcomes ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
Period: Feb 2017 – Jul 2019
Federal Funding $29,875
Sensory Experiences Project (SEP) ⟩
Cluster: Autism, Sensory Processing, and Neurodevelopment ⟩
Young participant plays with a toy puffer fish in the insp!re lab The SEP was a 10-year longitudinal study that has concluded enrollment and is in the data analysis phase. The purpose of this project was to explain the development, functional impact, and pathogenesis of unusual sensory experiences…
Period: Jul 2008 – Jun 2014
Federal Funding $2,516,180
Study finds 3 percent of children have elevated sensory issues that seemingly worsen throughout early childhood, a pattern strongly linked to autism ⟩
December 29, 2022
By following more than 1,500 children over six years, USC-led study helps confirm sensory features are an early behavioral marker of autism.
New analysis of developmental screen finds autistic children showed heightened sensory, motor behaviors as infants ⟩
March 7, 2022
By analyzing more than 6,000 questionnaire responses, team of USC and UNC researchers identify areas during infancy linked to later neurodevelopmental risks.
New study shows autism correlated with changing sensory preferences during early childhood ⟩
March 3, 2022
Results from a USC–UNC study suggest sensory issues in early infancy may be the first signs of a later autism diagnosis.
Elementary school students tap imagination and empathy to design mural in new USC research lab ⟩
March 21, 2019
Lab studying early screening, sensory issues tied to autism opens with Mirman School field trip visit.
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