Information

Related Research Units

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center Research
Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center (RSZ TNC) Research
Developmental Medicine Research
Wilkinson Lab Research

Research Overview

Our lab is interested in understanding the neural mechanisms impairing language acquisition and cognitive development across a range of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with intellectual disability. Ongoing studies in our lab use electroencephalography (EEG) to identify biomarkers of language development in young children with Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorders. Biomarkers identified through these studies could be used as objective measures of language prognosis, treatment monitoring during clinical trials, and development of effective therapeutics.

We are also interested in understanding biological and environmental factors that impact early brain development and, in turn, functional outcomes in children. In collaboration with Charles Nelson’s lab within the Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, our studies leverage EEG and behavioral/developmental data collected in infants and children longitudinally across the first three years of life. Here, we aim to better characterize the expected developmental trajectory of a variety of EEG based brain measures over those first three years, and determine what individual differences in developmental trajectory are associated with developmental outcomes.

Together, the ultimate goal of our research is to guide the development of effective therapies to improve developmental outcomes and functional independence for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Research Background

Dr. Carol Wilkinson is a physician-scientist in the Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Wilkinson earned her MD, PhD, and completed her pediatric residency at the University of California, San Francisco. There, her graduate work focused on molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. As a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician in the Autism Spectrum Center and Developmental Medicine Center at Boston Children’s, she cares for children with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders and challenges. Through her research and clinical work, her goal is to help children maximize their potential in all aspects of their life.

 

Education

Undergraduate School

Princeton University
2002 Princeton NJ

Graduate School

University of California, San Francisco
2009 San Francisco CA

Medical School

University of California, San Francisco
2011 San Francisco CA

Internship

University of California, San Francisco
2012 San Francisco CA

Residency

University of California, San Francisco
2014 San Francisco CA

Fellowship

Boston Children's Hospital
2017 Boston MA

Publications

  1. Examining Concurrent Associations Between Gesture Use, Developmental Domains, and Autistic Traits in Toddlers With Down Syndrome. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2025 Jan 22; 1-11. View Abstract
  2. Resting state EEG in young children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: associations with medications and seizures. J Neurodev Disord. 2025 Jan 18; 17(1):2. View Abstract
  3. EEG-based brain age prediction in infants-toddlers: Implications for early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2025 Jan; 71:101493. View Abstract
  4. Change in aperiodic activity over first year of life is associated with later autism diagnosis and 18-month language development in infants with family history of autism. medRxiv. 2024 Dec 16. View Abstract
  5. Correction: Resting Frontal Gamma Power is Associated with Both Expressive Language and Non-verbal Cognitive Abilities in Young Autistic Children. J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Oct; 54(10):3971-3972. View Abstract
  6. Alterations in aperiodic and periodic EEG activity in young children with Down syndrome. Neurobiol Dis. 2024 Oct 01; 200:106643. View Abstract
  7. Familial Recurrence of Autism: Updates From the Baby Siblings Research Consortium. Pediatrics. 2024 Aug 01; 154(2). View Abstract
  8. Developmental trajectories of EEG aperiodic and periodic components in children 2-44 months of age. Nat Commun. 2024 Jul 10; 15(1):5788. View Abstract
  9. Resting state EEG in young children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Res Sq. 2024 Jun 27. View Abstract
  10. Prediction of chronological age from resting-state EEG power in the first three years of life. medRxiv. 2024 Jun 01. View Abstract
  11. Alterations in aperiodic and periodic EEG activity in young children with Down syndrome. medRxiv. 2024 May 03. View Abstract
  12. Resting Frontal Gamma Power is Associated with Both Expressive Language and Non-verbal Cognitive Abilities in Young Autistic Children. J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Apr 12. View Abstract
  13. Developmental trajectories of EEG aperiodic and periodic components: Implications for understanding thalamocortical development during infancy. bioRxiv. 2024 Mar 09. View Abstract
  14. Evaluating early EEG correlates of restricted and repetitive behaviors for toddlers with or without autism. Res Sq. 2024 Jan 18. View Abstract
  15. Developmental trajectories of EEG aperiodic and periodic power: Implications for understanding the timing of thalamocortical development during infancy. Res Sq. 2023 Sep 18. View Abstract
  16. Associations between EEG trajectories, family income, and cognitive abilities over the first two years of life. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2023 Jun; 61:101260. View Abstract
  17. Associations Between Infant Screen Use, Electroencephalography Markers, and Cognitive Outcomes. JAMA Pediatr. 2023 03 01; 177(3):311-318. View Abstract
  18. Neural response to repeated auditory stimuli and its association with early language ability in male children with Fragile X syndrome. Front Integr Neurosci. 2022; 16:987184. View Abstract
  19. Neural correlates of face processing associated with development of social communication in 12-month infants with familial risk of autism spectrum disorder. J Neurodev Disord. 2022 01 12; 14(1):6. View Abstract
  20. Prediction of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis using nonlinear measures of language-related EEG at 6 and 12 months. J Neurodev Disord. 2021 11 30; 13(1):57. View Abstract
  21. Parental Language Input Predicts Neuroscillatory Patterns Associated with Language Development in Toddlers at Risk of Autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Jun; 52(6):2717-2731. View Abstract
  22. Increased aperiodic gamma power in young boys with Fragile X Syndrome is associated with better language ability. Mol Autism. 2021 02 25; 12(1):17. View Abstract
  23. Sensory processing and P300 event-related potential correlates of stimulant response in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A critical review. Clin Neurophysiol. 2021 04; 132(4):953-966. View Abstract
  24. Use of longitudinal EEG measures in estimating language development in infants with and without familial risk for autism spectrum disorder. Neurobiol Lang (Camb). 2020; 1(1):33-53. View Abstract
  25. Quantitative Evaluation of Content and Age Concordance Across Developmental Milestone Checklists. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2019 09; 40(7):511-518. View Abstract
  26. Reduced frontal gamma power at 24 months is associated with better expressive language in toddlers at risk for autism. Autism Res. 2019 08; 12(8):1211-1224. View Abstract
  27. The Harvard Automated Processing Pipeline for Electroencephalography (HAPPE): Standardized Processing Software for Developmental and High-Artifact Data. Front Neurosci. 2018; 12:97. View Abstract
  28. Texts for Talking: Evaluation of a Mobile Health Program Addressing Speech and Language Delay. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2016 Oct; 55(11):1044-9. View Abstract
  29. Arc in the nucleus regulates PML-dependent GluA1 transcription and homeostatic plasticity. Nat Neurosci. 2013 Jul; 16(7):874-83. View Abstract
  30. Arc regulates spine morphology and maintains network stability in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Oct 19; 107(42):18173-8. View Abstract
  31. The serum response factor and a putative novel transcription factor regulate expression of the immediate-early gene Arc/Arg3.1 in neurons. J Neurosci. 2009 Feb 04; 29(5):1525-37. View Abstract
  32. RNA decay back in play. Nat Neurosci. 2007 Sep; 10(9):1083-4. View Abstract
  33. AMPA receptors regulate transcription of the plasticity-related immediate-early gene Arc. Nat Neurosci. 2006 Jul; 9(7):887-95. View Abstract

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