Unifying Neurobiological, Computational, Environmental, and Clinical Studies to Advance Developmental Research: A Multimethodological Approach

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

This symposium represents an important endeavor that synergizes findings from computational, neurobiological, environmental, and clinical approaches to advance our understanding of information processing across development through a multimethodological lens. Study 1 focuses on processes from a neurobiological approach examining neural patterns with 5-to-7-month-olds using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and is the first study to validate NIRS in infancy as a methodological tool for measuring neural correlates of processes (looking, attention) in a naturalistic environment. Transitioning from infancy to toddlerhood, Study 2 investigates processes (making inferences about indirectly correlated features) with 2-and-3-year-olds using a computational approach, and the model shows that detecting second-order correlations depends on having sufficient information-processing capacities. Transitioning from toddlerhood to preschoolers, Study 3 investigates dyadic processes (joint-visual-attention) with 3-to-5-year-olds in varying Zoom contexts from an environmental approach. The discussant will provide an overview of how we can address converging research questions using diverse methodological approaches, and exemplifies multimethodology in practice through a study focusing on processes with Fragile X Syndrome children and matched controls from a clinical approach. Transitioning from preschoolers to middle childhood, this study encompasses all methodologies from Studies 1-3 with neuroimaging using NIRS–identical to the neurobiological approach in Study 1, a model to predict outcomes–mirroring the computational approach in Study 2, and focuses on attention with varying parameters within a technological interface–following the environmental approach in Study 3. Early information processing predicts later educational/occupational outcomes and overall wellbeing; thus, harmonizing methodological approaches in diverse developmental contexts provides a promising avenue for future research.

Sub Unit

• Methods, History, Theory

Chair

• Cassondra Eng, Stanford University

Discussant

• Cassondra Eng, Stanford University

Individual Presentations

• Measuring the Infant Brain at Play: A Pilot fNIRS Study - Presenting Author: Aleksandra (Ola) Dopierala, University of British Columbia (UBC); Annie Schwartzstein, University of California; Yi Koei Yang, University of British Columbia; Lauren L. Emberson, Princeton University

• A Behavioral and Computational Investigation of one Correlational Mechanism for Learning Causal Relations - Presenting Author: Deon Terrel Benton, Vanderbilt University

• Structuring Shared Reading Over Video Chat to Promote Joint Attention and Engagement - Presenting Author: Gabrielle A. Strouse, University of South Dakota; Lauren J. Myers, Lafayette College; Taylor Stone, Boston College; Ryan Vinzant, University of South Dakota; Emily Clark, University of South Dakota; Jessica Lehmen, University of South Dakota