Perinatal Brain Injury

This research focuses on the long-term cognitive development of children, including healthy infants and those who had a perinatal brain injury. As part of this research study, children complete virtual game and assessments. Parents will be asked to fill out questionnaires about their child's behavior and stress in the home. All study visits will take place online via Zoom.

Preterm and term infants with brain injury frequently have delayed motor skills, and one hand and arm may become stronger than the other, which can signal early cerebral palsy. A new treatment, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), boosts specific brain circuits and may improve function when paired with intensive motor activities. This study will test taVNS-paired constraint induced movement therapy in infants who have greater weakness on one side and determine if a single pulse of transcranial brain stimulation over the motor area can cause a measurable movement of the hand or thumb, and indicate which infants can benefit from 40h taVNS-paired CIMT.