Babies learn language best by interacting with people rather than passively through a video or audio recording. But it’s been unclear what aspects of social interactions make them so important for learning. Now findings by researchers at the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS) demonstrate for the first time that an early social behavior called gaze shifting is linked … Read More
Babies’ Brain Responses to Touch Reveal Body Map
See an adorable baby and it can be hard to resist reaching out for a cuddle. The sense of touch is the earliest form of communication between babies and their caregivers. It’s one way we say “I love you” long before infants understand language. Now scientists at the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS) and Temple … Read More
How Do Preschoolers Start Learning Science?
One of the best ways children learn is by copying what they see others do. New findings show they use social observation and imitation to learn invisible scientific concepts. Sir Isaac Newton, as the famous story goes, didn’t formulate the theory of gravity from seeing the property itself, but rather by watching an apple fall from a tree to the … Read More
‘Shh! Don’t Wake the Baby:’ Toddlers Understand How Noise Influences Others
Watch a young child shouting in a grocery store or banging a spoon on a table and you might think they don’t realize how their racket affects others. A new study shows that toddlers as young as 2 understand that the sounds they make influence the people around them and know how to adapt the loudness of their activities according … Read More
Ethical Questions for Brain-to-Brain Communication
As science makes steps toward brain-to-brain communication, what ethical questions should society consider? Brain-to-brain communication is a topic that will dominate neuroscience for much of this century, according to a story in the May issue of the Smithsonian magazine. As part of a special report “Innovation for Good: Game Changers,” the Smithsonian story profiles University of Washington research in brain-computer interfaces, and … Read More
What Helps Kids Form a Connection? Synchrony
A simple activity played simultaneously helped 8-year-olds feel more connected to each other, according to a new study by an I-LABS researcher. Children who did the same activity – a rhythmic game played on a computer – but not in a synchronous way did not report the same increase in connection. These new findings, by I-LABS postdoctoral fellow Tal-Chen Rabinowitch, … Read More
Year in Review: I-LABS Most Popular News of 2015
Looking back at 2015, here are the discoveries and other accomplishments that received the most attention. Click the links to learn more! Between a steady stream of published research studies, public speaking engagements locally and around the world, and new national accolades—it’s been another record year for I-LABS scientists and outreach staff. January: New Year, New National Recognition What goes … Read More
Do Female Teachers Help Girls Overcome STEM Stereotypes?
To get more girls into tech careers we need to counteract negative stereotypes about the field, UW and I-LABS research shows. Women make up only about 20 percent of the recipients of bachelor’s degrees in computer science, creating a large gender disparity. This gap has received ample attention for its causes and what can be done about it. “Women are missing out … Read More
Listening with Eyes, New Research on How Brain Understands Sound
New research findings by I-LABS’ Ross Maddox and Adrian KC Lee help explain how the brain helps us hear conversations in loud settings. Imagine the common scenario known as the cocktail party effect. You’re in a loud and crowded room, trying to concentrate on what the person next to you is saying. As you strain to hear the spoken words, you’re … Read More
New Research: Babies and Birds
Who wins when smart crows and kids match wits? New Caledonian crows are tops in tool-making, but humans master innovation. I-LABS’ Anna Waismeyer and Andrew Meltzoff collaborated with an international team of scientists to study cognition and problem solving in babies and birds. Crows are famous for their use of tools to solve problems. The study, published by the journal Proceedings of … Read More