UIC Department of Psychiatry

Check here for information on ongoing research projects being conducted at the Brain-Body Center, including recruitment information.

Infant Development Studies

The Infant Development Studies are federally-funded longitudinal studies that are designed to evaluate the effects of early behavioral/autonomic regulation on social and behavioral development.

We are currently looking for children between ages 14 months – 24 months to participate in a research study on infant social behavior and crying. The study involves completing questionnaires about you and your baby, and completing 2 research sessions at the University of Illinois at Chicago. At the research sessions, your child will receive a play-based developmental assessment, during which your child’s heart rate and breathing will be monitored.

This research is a collaboration between UIC, Erikson Institute, and University of Chicago.

UIC IRB # 2008-0479

For more information, please call Ella at 312-996-3167 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Auditory Functioning in Adults with Bell’s Palsy and Hearing Sensitivity

The study is designed to learn about the effect of facial paralysis on auditory functioning, particularly on hearing sensitivity.  Learning more about the impact of facial paralysis on the auditory system could help us better understand the underlying physiological mechanisms associated with hearing sensitivity.

The study consists of a series of hearing tests along with heart rate monitoring.  We are looking for healthy participants (ages 18 and up), who are currently experiencing facial paralysis due to Bell’s Palsy or hearing sensitivity.

UIC IRB #2008-0141

If you would like to participate or receive more information about the study, please contact Greg Lewis at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 312-996-3167.

Effect of Auditory Intervention on Physiological Processes

The Brain-Body Center is conducting a research study to learn more about the relations among social behavior and heart rate, breathing, facial muscle activity, brain activity, hearing and/or eye-tracking.  We are currently recruiting typically-developing children and adults between the ages 11-17 years of age and 56-64 years of age.

UIC IRB # 2002-0184

For more info, please contact Danielle at 312-996-3167 or send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Listening Clinic

The Listening Clinic staff works to test and implement a research-based intervention known as the Listening Project Protocol. The Listening Project Protocol is designed to exercise processes involved in listening to human voice that may improve social communication by reducing hearing sensitivities and improving auditory processing. The Listening Project Protocol is based on the Polyvagal Theory developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and, prior to the establishment of the Listening Clinic, was a research protocol at the University of Maryland.