Lyall/Zimmerman: Optimizing Neurodevelopmental Assessments in ECHO: Validating Measures and Capturing Critical Periods of Development

ECHO Discovery Summary

On September 8, Kristen Lyall, ScD of Drexel University and Emily Zimmerman, PhD of Northeastern University gave presentations on their ECHO Opportunities and Infrastructure Fund (OIF) Award Studies. The OIF is an NIH-funded grants mechanism for early investigators to support projects for the introduction of new research, tools, and technologies in the ECHO Program. Each study examined different testing measures for pre-, peri-, and postnatal neurodevelopmental health outcomes.

Integration of Non-Nutritive Suck and Eye Tracking as Markers of Neurodevelopment Across Five ECHO Cohorts

Dr. Zimmerman presented her research on the association between maternal prenatal stress and infant non-nutritive suck (NNS). NNS refers to when a baby sucks without receiving any nutrition, such as on fingers or pacifiers.

Her study implemented NNS and eye tracking across 5 ECHO Cohorts to assess neurocognitive functions in relation to environmental exposures and maternal stress. Mother and infant participants were from the IKIDS Cohort in Illinois and ECHO-PROTECT in Puerto Rico. IKIDS mothers were predominantly white, married, and had at least a bachelor’s degree, while ECHO-PROTECT mothers were predominantly Puerto Rican and in households earning less than $50,000 per year.

Investigators found that mothers who reported feeling more nervous and stressed, and who had increased feelings of anger, had infants with lower sucking activity. Prenatal maternal perceived stress was significantly associated with fewer but longer sucking bursts in ECHO-PROTECT, which can likely be attributed to lower income and stressful events such as the Zika virus outbreak and hurricane activity.

Validation of Shortened Versions for the Social Responsiveness Scale: Implications for ECHO and Quantitative Trait Research

Dr. Lyall’s presentation was focused around Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how to lessen the burden of a particular method of measuring ASD-related behaviors, called the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS).

ASD is a developmental condition that can be characterized by challenges in social interactions and communication, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior and interest, and developmental delays at an early age. The SRS is a widely-used measure of autism-related traits that can be administered by a provider or caregiver.

The research found that shortening the SRS from 65 questions to 16 led to reduced participant burden without substantial loss in measurement of ASD-related behaviors. This can eventually lead to opportunities for wider-scale application. Dr. Lyall is optimistic that the SRS, including the shortened version, can be used to learn more about ASD and related social functioning.

Speakers:

Kristen Lyall, ScD

Drexel University

Speaker Bio: Dr. Lyall’s research seeks to identify and understand modifiable risk factors for autism-related outcomes. Her work focuses on parental factors, prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals, and maternal dietary factors and their association with child ASD, as well as consideration of ASD- related traits according to continuous, quantitative measures.

Emily Zimmerman, PhD., CCC-SLP

Northeastern University

Speaker Bio: Dr. Zimmerman’s research is focused on the link between early sucking and feeding and subsequent neurodevelopment. She studies the environmental, maternal, physiological, and genetic influences of these behaviors across patient populations and cultures.

Date: Wednesday, September 8th, 1 to 2pm ET