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Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training

NCT05849376 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 25

Last updated 2026-05-19

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goals of this project are to (a) incorporate empirical findings on imitation training and learning in autistic children into a comprehensive protocol for Applied Behavior Analysis practitioners designed to rapidly facilitate generalized imitation called Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training (EMIT), and (b) collect pilot data on the efficacy of EMIT with a small sample of autistic children. EMIT will incorporate several features that are grounded in prior research including: (a) evidence-based procedures for establishing trained matching relations (a pre-requisite to generalized imitation), (b) concurrent training of different response types (e.g., motor imitation, object imitation, vocal imitation) to address restricted generalization, (c) multiple manipulative object imitation training, (d) evidence-based procedures for remediating slow acquisition, and (e) frequent tests for the emergence of generalized imitation. EMIT will be the first protocol designed for clinical use that reflects research findings on imitation learning spanning almost five decades.

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training

Sessions will be conducted in a room with minimal distractions containing a table, two chairs, a timer, and 3-4 highly preferred (HP) items identified by preference assessments. A maximum of 10 sessions per week will be distributed across at least 3 days per week. Each session will take 15-20 min to conduct. Novel probe trials will be embedded throughout all sessions to continuously assess for the emergence of generalized imitation. When participants can consistently imitate novel probe responses, the intervention will conclude.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Meghan A Deshais, Ph.D. · Rutgers University

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
12 Months
Max Age
6 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-03-27
Primary Completion
2027-08-31
Completion
2027-08-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05849376 on ClinicalTrials.gov