Why bilingualism is child’s play

I-LABSMedia Coverage, Research

young child reading

In this article from the South China Morning Post by Annie Ho, Patricia Kuhl and Andrew Meltzoff’s recent visit to Hong Kong and the talks they gave are discussed. A power couple in neuroscience, professors Patricia Kuhl and Andrew Meltzoff were in Hong  Kong recently to give a talk on their respective areas of expertise – emotional quotient andintelligence quotient – … Read More

Parental language to infants — it’s quality not quantity

I-LABSMedia Coverage, Publication, Research

mother feeding baby

A new discovery to be published in the journal Developmental Science reports that speech directed to 11- to 14-month-old infants predicts both their concurrent and future language accomplishments, and points to practical information useful for parents. The first factor linked to success in language is the use of “parentese” (rather than standard adult-directed speech). The second factor predicting success is … Read More

Don’t just talk. Listen to your baby too

I-LABSMedia Coverage, Outreach, Research

baby in winter hat being carried by adult

New campaigns to increase the number of words young children hear should focus on real conversations too. By Lisa Guernsey If you’re a parent, you can’t miss the hot new thing in early education: words. Talk to your baby, and you close the education gap, goes the theory. Early language experiences, myriad studies show, help form the foundation for children’s learning and their … Read More

I-LABS Board Members Nominated for Microsoft’s Integral Fellows Program

I-LABSMedia Coverage, Research

Suzi LeVine and Will Poole

Congratulations to I-LABS Advisory Board members Suzi LeVine and Will Poole on their nomination for Microsoft’s Integral Fellows program. The program recognizes alumni who are using their talents to make meaningful differences in the lives of others. Suzi has been nominated for her work with I-LABS! See Suzi’s bio and read more about the Integral Fellows program. Will has been nominated for founding … Read More

I-LABS in The Seattle Times

I-LABSMedia Coverage, Outreach, Research

The Seattle Times reported on I-LABS June 17 briefing to the Seattle City Council. Dr. Sarah Roseberry Lytle, Director of Translation, Education, and Outreach, spoke to the councilmembers about I-LABS research highlighting the importance of early learning. Dr. Steve Barnett of Rutgers University also presented evidence on the importance of high quality preschools. The event, titled “Early Childhood Development and … Read More

Patricia Kuhl Interviewed on NPR Science Friday

I-LABSMedia Coverage, Research

Kuhl at a table attending event

On Friday, June 14, 2013, Dr. Patricia Kuhl joined Ira Flatow, host of National Public Radio’s nationally-acclaimed Science Friday program, for a live broadcast from the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. NPR’s Science Friday is the trusted source for news about science, technology and other cool stuff. Listen to Dr. Kuhl’s interview The two-hour broadcast covered current science topics with … Read More

New Research: While in womb, babies begin learning language from their mothers

I-LABSMedia Coverage, Popular Articles, Research

Each time a newborn sucks on the pacifier, a computer delivers sound into the headphones. The sounds are computer-generated versions of vowels. Infants in both countries were tested with English and Swedish vowels. This newborn in Sweden is listening to an English vowel; after long pause in sucking, the vowel is changed. The number of sucking responses to each vowel … Read More

Dr. Kuhl’s TED.com talk: The linguistic genius of babies

I-LABSMedia Coverage, Research

FEb 18, 2011. Dr. Patricia Kuhl’s TEDx Rainier talk on language acquisition is now available on TED.com. Dr. Kuhl talks to attendees at the TEDx Rainier event held on October 10, 2010 about I-LABS’ studies on the first critical period of language development in infants. At the age of six months, babies are able to distinguish sounds from all languages, … Read More