Promotion of sensorimotor and attentional development for infants at elevated likelihood of autism: single case experimental design of novel caregiver implemented NDBI.
5 affiliations
- 1Institute On Community Integration, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. [email protected].
- 2Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota, 2025 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. [email protected].
- 3Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
- 4Institute On Community Integration, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
- 5Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota, 2025 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA.
Abstract
Background
Infants with familial autism are at elevated likelihood for future neurodevelopmental needs, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and clinically significant cognitive and behavioral challenges. Science is advancing the near-future ability to determine presymptomatic and prodromal periods of neurodevelopmental disabilities in infancy. To meet the needs of these infants and their families, proactive intervention and support models must advance in tandem.Methods
The present study investigated a novel, telehealth-based approach to caregiver coaching within a naturalistic and developmental behavioral intervention framework to address behavioral priors of attention and sensorimotor responding with nine infants at elevated likelihood of autism due to family history. We sought to answer a primary research question on the functional relation of the NDBI intervention on proximal infant behaviors related to sensorimotor and attentional responding during three, concurrent multiple baseline designs across infant/caregiver dyads. Secondary questions on the feasibility of the study and pre/post characterization of distal measures of infant development were also included.Results
Based on descriptive analysis of attendance data and visual analysis of SCED data, there was promising feasibility and initial single case experimental design evidence on the idiographic efficacy particularly on motor imitation, although results were variable across participants and targeted responses. Following iterations on the study design, the final procedures in the third multiple baseline design led to the most consistent changes across dyads.Conclusions
Given the known importance on earlier identification of autism spectrum disorder/neurodevelopmental disabilities (ASD/NDD) coupled with the nascent stage of intervention research at prodromal or presymptomatic periods, intervention research needs to develop in lockstep with earlier identification. Flexibility appears to be an important component of the present intervention and other emerging models of infant intervention for families with young children and with multiple children with or at elevated likelihood of ASD/NDD.Trial registration
This study was retrospectively registered at OSF. https://osf.io/6tuyx/overview?view_only=2c85f33fd60b496f86ecb09625e6e4b7 , Clinical Trial Registration: not applicable.
Related
- Early sleep and sensory over-responsivity relate to insular functional connectivity with sensorimotor cortices and cerebellum in infants at varying likelihood for autism.
- The development of navigation and attentional abilities shapes how children explore naturalistic environments
- Development of appropriate sensorimotor recalibration for a de novo skill
- Competing programs shape cortical sensorimotor–association axis development
- Moral and perceptual conflict processing are implemented by distinct brain activation and functional connectivity patterns
BibTeX
@article{simacek2026promotion,
title = {{Promotion of sensorimotor and attentional development for infants at elevated likelihood of autism: single case experimental design of novel caregiver implemented NDBI.}},
author = {Jessica J Simacek and Emma Worthley and Adele Dimian and Jaclyn Gunderson and Hannah Beavis and Laura Chubb and Phuong Tran and Pernilla Meyer and Jason J Wolff},
journal = {Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s11689-026-09724-x},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009778},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Promotion of sensorimotor and attentional development for infants at elevated likelihood of autism: single case experimental design of novel caregiver implemented NDBI.
AU - Jessica J Simacek
AU - Emma Worthley
AU - Adele Dimian
AU - Jaclyn Gunderson
AU - Hannah Beavis
AU - Laura Chubb
AU - Phuong Tran
AU - Pernilla Meyer
AU - Jason J Wolff
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/13
JO - Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders
DO - 10.1186/s11689-026-09724-x
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009778
AB - Background Infants with familial autism are at elevated likelihood for future neurodevelopmental needs, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and clinically significant cognitive and behavioral challenges. Science is advancing the near-future ability to determine presymptomatic and prodromal periods of neurodevelopmental disabilities in infancy. To meet the needs of these infants and their families, proactive intervention and support models must advance in tandem.Methods The present study investigated a novel, telehealth-based approach to caregiver coaching within a naturalistic and developmental behavioral intervention framework to address behavioral priors of attention and sensorimotor responding with nine infants at elevated likelihood of autism due to family history. We sought to answer a primary research question on the functional relation of the NDBI intervention on proximal infant behaviors related to sensorimotor and attentional responding during three, concurrent multiple baseline designs across infant/caregiver dyads. Secondary questions on the feasibility of the study and pre/post characterization of distal measures of infant development were also included.Results Based on descriptive analysis of attendance data and visual analysis of SCED data, there was promising feasibility and initial single case experimental design evidence on the idiographic efficacy particularly on motor imitation, although results were variable across participants and targeted responses. Following iterations on the study design, the final procedures in the third multiple baseline design led to the most consistent changes across dyads.Conclusions Given the known importance on earlier identification of autism spectrum disorder/neurodevelopmental disabilities (ASD/NDD) coupled with the nascent stage of intervention research at prodromal or presymptomatic periods, intervention research needs to develop in lockstep with earlier identification. Flexibility appears to be an important component of the present intervention and other emerging models of infant intervention for families with young children and with multiple children with or at elevated likelihood of ASD/NDD.Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered at OSF. https://osf.io/6tuyx/overview?view_only=2c85f33fd60b496f86ecb09625e6e4b7 , Clinical Trial Registration: not applicable.
SN - 1866-1947
SN - 1866-1955
ER -