Dr. April A. Benasich is the Elizabeth H. Solomon Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. She is also the Director of the Infancy Studies Laboratory at the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University-Newark and Director of the Carter Center for Neurocognitive Research. Her research uses converging paradigms and prospective longitudinal studies to explore the human developing brain, the dynamics of early brain plasticity and the role of attention and sensory recruitment in the construction of early brain networks crucial to normative language and cognitive development. 

Her most recent work examines the effects of an adaptive, interactive behavioral protocol that supports formation of pre-linguistic brain maps early in life, thus optimizing auditory brain mapping and later language development. A patented interactive toy-like device – now in the prototype stage – has been designed to facilitate active technology transfer to home, daycare and clinic settings and hopefully provide “real-world” intervention solutions.