Utilizing functional neuroimaging to study early language development

Language develops rapidly over the infant and toddler period and has been a key area of research within the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience. Understanding the neural basis of early language development may help us predict delays or disorders, recommend early interventions, and provide a deeper mechanistic understanding of how the brain supports language learning. While the ontogeny of many cognitive functions can be studied in animal models, language development can only be studied in human children. Thus, functional neuroimaging is critical for uncovering the neural basis of language in early development. The purpose of this review is to take stock of some examples of what we have learned so far, and to explore some of the biggest open questions for the next phase of fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research of language development.