Utilizing Functional Neuroimaging to Study Early Language Development

Posted on November 14, 2025 by childrenslearninginstitute

Published:

November 13, 2025

Publication:

CLI Author:

Abstract:

Language develops rapidly over the infant and toddler period and has been a key area of research within the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience. Understanding the neural basis of early language development may help us predict delays or disorders, recommend early interventions, and provide a deeper mechanistic understanding of how the brain supports language learning. While the ontogeny of many cognitive functions can be studied in animal models, language development can only be studied in human children. Thus, functional neuroimaging is critical for uncovering the neural basis of language in early development. The purpose of this review is to take stock of some examples of what we have learned so far, and to explore some of the biggest open questions for the next phase of fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research of language development.

Funding:

Research reported in this publication was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (award number F32HD117580 to HAO; award number R21HD109725 to KAV), National Institutes of Health (award number T32DC019481 to TKMD; award number T32MH126368 to BLM), and National Science Foundation (Graduate Research Fellowship Program DGE-1343012 to KJH).

Citation:

Halie A. Olson, Trevor K.M. Day, Kelly J. Hiersche, Brittany L. Manning, Holly Bradley, Soujin Choi, Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova, Sarah A. McCormick, Amy L. Conrad, Dustin Scheinost, & Kelly A. Vaughn (2025). Utilizing functional neuroimaging to study early language development. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 76(101641). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101641

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101641