How do we recognize faces and written words? The development of high-level visual regions in ventral temporal cortex during childhood

How do we recognize faces and written words? The development of high-level visual regions in ventral temporal cortex during childhood - VisDevo

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00029272

Enrollment

Registered

2024-04-11

Start date

2023-06-14

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-04-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

F84.0

Interventions

Group 1: This study includes three different groups: (1) Children aged 4-6 years who do not yet attend school, (2) Children aged 10-12 years who are already attending school, and (3) Children aged 10-

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

4 Years to 12 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: For the younger age group: Children aged 4-6 years in preschool age. For the two older groups: Children aged 10-12 years. For the group with ASD: a diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Exclusion criteria for healthy children: Psychiatric or neurological disorders Diagnosis of dyslexia Family history of dyslexia Exclusion criteria related to MRI measurements: -Presence of pacemakers or other stimulation devices, implants such as an artificial heart valve, metal prostheses, surgical clips, hearing aids, cochlear implants, medication pumps/infusion devices -Metal parts in or on the body – especially in the eye (surgical screws or plates, metal fragments, etc.) Claustrophobia Severe obesity Exclusion criteria for children with ASD: Neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy) Structural abnormalities in brain morphology Genetic syndromes Exclusion criteria related to MRI measurements -Presence of pacemakers or other stimulation devices, implants such as an artificial heart valve, metal prostheses, surgical clips, hearing aids, cochlear implants, medication pumps/infusion devices -Metal parts in or on the body – especially in the eye (surgical screws or plates, metal fragments, etc.) Claustrophobia Severe obesity

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
One aim of this study is to better understand the processes in the brain during the process of learning to read. To better comprehend this crucial process, we compare specific brain regions in children who cannot read yet (aged 4-6 years) with those who can read (aged 10-12 years). In total, it is anticipated that 35 children aged 4 to 6 years and 25 children aged 10 to 12 years will participate in this study. The study comprises two measurement appointments per child. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we will measure the volume of brain regions involved in the neural processing of written words and faces. Each child participates in two MRI measurements, which take place approximately two weeks from each other. Furthermore, through camera recordings conducted by the children at home, we will assess the visual experiences of participating children. For example, it is assessed how and how often children look at faces and text in their everyday lives. We will record eye movements of the participants using an eye tracker while viewing pictures of everyday situations. The goal of this measurement is to test whether school-aged children focus their gaze on text more often than preschool children. The Cambridge Face Memory Test is administered to all participants to assess face recognition performance. All measurements will be compared between preschool and primary school children. Additionally, we will assess handedness as control measures. The endpoint of the study is reached when the desired sample size (see above) has been collected. We aim to achieve this goal by June 2025.	—

Measure

Time frame

One aim of this study is to better understand the processes in the brain during the process of learning to read. To better comprehend this crucial process, we compare specific brain regions in children who cannot read yet (aged 4-6 years) with those who can read (aged 10-12 years). In total, it is anticipated that 35 children aged 4 to 6 years and 25 children aged 10 to 12 years will participate in this study. The study comprises two measurement appointments per child. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we will measure the volume of brain regions involved in the neural processing of written words and faces. Each child participates in two MRI measurements, which take place approximately two weeks from each other. Furthermore, through camera recordings conducted by the children at home, we will assess the visual experiences of participating children. For example, it is assessed how and how often children look at faces and text in their everyday lives. We will record eye movements of the participants using an eye tracker while viewing pictures of everyday situations. The goal of this measurement is to test whether school-aged children focus their gaze on text more often than preschool children. The Cambridge Face Memory Test is administered to all participants to assess face recognition performance. All measurements will be compared between preschool and primary school children. Additionally, we will assess handedness as control measures. The endpoint of the study is reached when the desired sample size (see above) has been collected. We aim to achieve this goal by June 2025.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Another goal is to better understand how brain regions involved in face perception differ between children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. For this purpose, we will compare 25 children aged 10 to 12 years with Autism Spectrum Disorder with 10- to 12-year-old children without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we will measure the volume of brain regions involved in the neural processing of faces and gestures. Furthermore, through camera recordings conducted by the children at home, we will assess the visual experiences of participating children. For example, it is assessed how and how often children look at faces in their daily lives. We will record eye movements of the participants using an eye tracker while viewing pictures of everyday situations. The goal of this measurement is to test whether children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) examine images with social stimuli such as faces differently than children without Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Cambridge Face Memory Test is administered to all participants to assess face recognition performance. All measurements collected are compared between children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and children without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Additionally, questionnaire surveys on handedness are conducted as control measures. The endpoint of the study is reached when the desired sample size (see above) has been collected. We aim to achieve this goal by June 2025	—

Measure

Time frame

Another goal is to better understand how brain regions involved in face perception differ between children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. For this purpose, we will compare 25 children aged 10 to 12 years with Autism Spectrum Disorder with 10- to 12-year-old children without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we will measure the volume of brain regions involved in the neural processing of faces and gestures. Furthermore, through camera recordings conducted by the children at home, we will assess the visual experiences of participating children. For example, it is assessed how and how often children look at faces in their daily lives. We will record eye movements of the participants using an eye tracker while viewing pictures of everyday situations. The goal of this measurement is to test whether children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) examine images with social stimuli such as faces differently than children without Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Cambridge Face Memory Test is administered to all participants to assess face recognition performance. All measurements collected are compared between children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and children without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Additionally, questionnaire surveys on handedness are conducted as control measures. The endpoint of the study is reached when the desired sample size (see above) has been collected. We aim to achieve this goal by June 2025

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactMarisa Nordt

Uniklinik RWTH Aachen

mnordt@ukaachen.de0241 80 80571

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026