These studies are the projects that are open for family participation in the Baby Learning Lab. Below are brief descriptions of each study to help give those interested an insight into what our research is currently focused in. Please refer to our Publications page to see recent and past studies.
Behavioral and Neural Correlates of Infant Learning Outcomes under Naturalistic Infant-Caregiver Play Settings (aka ManyToys)
In this study, we use fNIRS recordings to investigate the neural components (i.e. brain activities) of naturalistic infant-caregiver play in 6-month-old infants while they play with novel / unfamiliar toys. We also videotape infants’ behaviour (reaching, grasping, vocalization) during the naturalistic play session. We aim to discover any behaviour and neural correlations with babies’ learning. We know that toy play is an essential avenue of infant learning, and therefore infant development, however less is known about the behavioral and neural underpinnings during infant free play that will essentially lead to successful learning. Most research exploring infant learning through play utilize controlled experiments, which inherently limit the active role an infant holds in exploring and shaping their learning environment. In this study, we aim to examine any behaviors and neural activities that are particularly important for babies to achieve successful learning.
The goal of this project is to understand:
1. What are the statistics (e.g., frequency, duration, and coordination) of various behaviors and what are the corresponding neural activities during infant naturalistic toy play?
2. How behavioral and neural components contribute to successful learning? Are there differences in this relationship between instant and delayed learning outcome?
3. How different cultural backgrounds may exert influence on the toy interactions as well as the correlations between behaviors and learning outcomes?
Lead Researcher: Jingyun Zhu
Research Assistants (as of October 2026): Elizabeth Marsh, Indra Odbayar, Maddie Tse, Olivia Guasco, Andrew Creek, Esohe Odemwingie, Chiasa Guerrero