SPARK Study
The SPARK Study is investigating how the parenting and the environment impact the development of brain-to-brain synchrony between children and their primary caregivers and how this may affect academic and social outcomes.
Session 1
The SPARK Study will take place on Smith College’s campus in Northampton. The first session will take place in person the summer before your child begins Kindergarten. Only one visit to the lab is required, this visit will take about 2.5 hours to complete. During the session, your child will play fun, interactive games such as Simon Says, number and language games, picture games, and iPad-based activities (about 1.5 hours with breaks). Parents will complete surveys about your family’s experiences and demographics (about 1 hour). You and your child will also wear fNIRS caps and play a game together while both of you are neuroimaged at the same time. Families earn $85 for completing this session.
Additional Session
Six months later, you will participate in a follow-up session over Zoom. This session will last about 2 hours. Your child will again play interactive games such as Simon Says, number and language games, and picture games (about 1.5 hours). Parents will complete short tasks, including a Backwards Digit Span (BDS) and a Stroop task (about 30 minutes). Families earn $30 for completing this session.
Eligibility
Child:
- Ages 4-9
- Free of developmental delays or disorders.
- Fluent in English.
Parent/Primary Caregiver:
- Can be non-native English speaking but must be proficient in English and primarily use English when speaking with their child at home.