The Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS) announces the launch of our official Instagram account – @UW_ILABS. Our new social media platform is designed to keep you informed and engaged with groundbreaking research and resources you can use. By following our Instagram account, you’ll gain access to:• The latest research news and updates from I-LABS• Inspiring stories and insights from … Read More
AI signals mirror how the brain listens
When we listen to spoken words, the sound enters our ears and is converted into electrical signals. Those signals then travel through the brainstem and into the auditory processing regions of the brain. Christina Zhao at I-LABS and colleagues at UC Berkeley and Johns Hopkins traced that path in the brain using EEG electrodes placed on listeners’ scalps. Participants listened … Read More
Chantel Prat on Nature Neuroscience podcast
Tales from the Synapse is a 12-part podcast series produced in partnership with the scientific journal Nature Neuroscience. The series features brain scientists from all over the world who talk about their career journeys, collaborations and the societal impact of their research. In this episode, I-LABS faculty member Chantel Prat talks about her studies on the neuroscience of individual differences in … Read More
I-LABS Outreach Resources Now Available in Four Languages
Many of our I-LABS Outreach Resources are now available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Somali. We invite you to explore our new translated materials, including select modules, discussion guides, handouts, and infographics. Click here for resources in English Click here for resources in Spanish Click here for resources in Vietnamese Click here for resources in Somali
Andrew Meltzoff elected to National Academy of Education
I-LABS co-Director Andrew Meltzoff has been elected to the National Academy of Education (NAE). This prestigious group of scholars are selected for their impact on the field of education. The NAE is the nation’s highest scientific body in education sciences, often consulted by the White House, Congress, and others. Meltzoff is being recognized for his work on stereotypes about ‘who … Read More
I-LABS researchers have discovered a connection between conversational turn taking with infants, and their brain maturation related to language development
Have you ever wondered what exactly is going on in the brains of babies as you return their coos and chat through the millionth diaper change? Turns out, quite a lot. Researchers at I-LABS looked at how the structure of babies’ brains change in response to early language input. Their findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, explored the effects … Read More
New America blog shares I-LABS DLL research
New America is a think tank which focuses on public policy issues. Recently their Education Policy Program blogged about I-LABS research on dual-language learning (DLL) which strikes down common misconceptions about babies’ brain, cognitive and social development when learning more than one language. Thanks to the I-LABS Outreach team’s Beth Zack and Marley Jarvis whose presentation inspired this New America … Read More
Identification with ‘all humanity’ predicts willingness to contribute to health of others.
Psychology plays a considerable role in human health. New research shows that the level to which individuals identify with ‘all humanity’ is a reliable predictor of their willingness to contribute to the health of others. The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most pressing challenges to global society in the early 21st century. Research Scientist Dr. Rodolfo Cortes Barragan … Read More
Dr. Kuhl Goes to Washington (Olympia, Washington that is)
Dr. Patricia Kuhl, co-Director of I-LABS, was invited to speak to the Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee of the Washington State House of Representatives. On January 10, 2023, she briefed the committee on the latest research showing how early learning changes the brain, and how brain changes in infancy predict a child’s future learning. She concluded with recommendations … Read More
Research Reveals How Gender Stereotypes Steer Girls Away From STEM Starting in First Grade
Women are underrepresented in STEM careers. A new publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) reveals that gendered stereotypes about these fields may be an early childhood contributor to this underrepresentation. I-LABS researchers found that many children as young as six already believe that boys are more interested in computer science and engineering than girls. This belief … Read More