CALC Study

what are we researching?

Research suggests a strong neurocognitive and genetic link between reading and math, with high co-occurrence rates of reading and math learning difficulties. However, the developmental trajectories of typical and atypical math and reading skills have mostly been studied apart and potential shared mechanisms are unknown.

The CALC Study seeks to further explore this link through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as well as language, math, and cognitive assessments. MRI is a safe and completely non-invasive method that we use to take pictures of the brain! To learn more about MRI, please visit our MRI Safety page. The purpose of the study is to use these methods to track the development of the reading and math networks in children over four years, beginning in kindergarten, to investigate how early brain differences in people at familial risk for reading and math difficulties manifest.

This study has the potential to provide a model for understanding developmental learning disabilities, their underlying mechanisms, and their co-occurrence. This, in turn, could inform more effective development of early screening, diagnostic, and intervention tools.