Scientists usually don’t hear “Oooo, it’s a scientist!” when they arrive at work. But lately such enthusiasm has greeted researchers from the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences who have taken their work out of the lab and into public. Once a week for the past few months, a trio of I-LABS researchers has been collecting data at a “mobile … 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
‘What Could Be More Fascinating?’ Director of I-LABS MEG Facility
Learn how Samu Taulu went from an early interest in math and physics to becoming a world leader in MEG technology. A brain-imaging technique, magnetoencephalography (MEG), is the powerhouse behind some of the most groundbreaking research at the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences. With the recent hiring of Samu Taulu as director of the I-LABS’ MEG … 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
Best Practices in Screen Media
“…the screen should be the tool, not the teacher.” Can kids learn from screens? How much should kids watch? How old should they be? What kind of content is best? Those are some of the most common questions Sarah Roseberry Lytle, director of the I-LABS outreach team, hears from parents and caregivers regarding the role of digital media in young children’s … Read More
Largest Hispanic Network in U.S. Features I-LABS
The largest Hispanic network in the U.S., Univision Noticias, recently sought out I-LABS as a resource for what parents can do to help give their children the best start in life. The network sent a Miami-based reporting team of three to report directly from the Institute’s lab in Seattle. The Univision team interviewed I-LABS researchers and collected footage of the I-LABS MEG facility. … Read More
Science of Early Learning for Decision-Makers
Parents, policymakers and foundation leaders often ask the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences what qualities create the best early childhood experiences. People ask us: What does the science say makes for preschool programs that will not only ensure school readiness but also set children up for the greatest chance at success in life – no matter their circumstances. “We’ve created … 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
Patricia Kuhl Reflects on Receiving Prestigious Award
I-LABS co-director Patricia Kuhl is the 2015 recipient of one of the most prestigious scholarly awards in her field: the George A. Miller Prize in Cognitive Neuroscience. The Cognitive Neuroscience Society bestows the award each year to a scientist at the “cutting-edge” of the field and whose work is characterized by “extraordinary innovation and high impact on international scientific thinking.” Citing Kuhl’s “groundbreaking work … Read More