I-LABS supports the urgent need to promote social justice and create a more inclusive environment for children and families. To this end, I-LABS has created a series of Research Summaries to inspire new programs and policies and a series of Family Guides to help caregivers address issues of inequality with children. See the briefs here.
TIME Features I-LABS Research on Infant Altruism
I-LABS scientists (Barragan, Brooks, & Meltzoff) published a paper on baby altruism. They found that infants help others even when that involves giving up things of value to themselves (Scientific Reports, 2020 ). The researchers also highlight social learning experiences at home that predict baby altruism. TIME magazine (Oct. 2020) featured this work in a special edition on “The Power of Kindness.”
I-LABS co-Director Profiled by ASA
I-LABS co-Director Patricia Kuhl has been interviewed by the Acoustical Society of America for their piece on past presidents of the society. Kuhl became the first female president of the Society in 1999. In the article she discusses many topics, including her current experiments with the neuroscience of mother and child interactions and the possible neural underpinnings of being ‘in … Read More
I-LABS Research Informs Infant and Toddler Learning During Pandemic
COVID-19 has changed the environments in which infants and toddlers learn. In order to understand how children and their caregivers can best navigate these new environments, The New York Times reached out to I-LABS co-Director Patricia Kuhl. I-LABS insights are offering research-based techniques to keep children learning during the pandemic. Read the article here.
I-LABS Outreach Director Discusses Screen Media
Parents today are understandably concerned about their children’s increased use of media during COVID-19. I-LABS Outreach director Sarah Lytle and other child development specialists discuss different strategies for managing screen media. They stress balancing media use with other activities and remind parents that quality is more important than quantity. Read the article here.
National Academy of Sciences Issues Early Childhood Call To Action
The National Academy of Sciences issues Briefs only when scientific consensus on a topic is overwhelming. I-LABS has contributed to a body of research that has met that standard. The Academy has just issued a Brief about early childhood education that confidently states four findings: Early education improves lives. Access to early education is not equitable, and those children most … Read More
I-LABS Graduate Student Wins Prestigious Award
I-LABS graduate student Malayka Mottarella has won the Graduate Student Research Award from The Society for Text and Discourse for her paper, “Skilled Readers Engage More Proactive Attentional Control During a Working Memory Task.” This award honors the best in pre-dissertation writing, recognizing students who have been lead authors on significant papers. Congratulations Malayka! Read the announcement here. Read about the award here.
I-LABS Research Provides Insights for Learning During COVID
In a wide-ranging interview, I-LABS co-directors Patricia Kuhl and Andrew Meltzoff discuss their research and how it relates to life during COVID. They talk about bias, equity, empathy, language acquisition, and technology, among other topics. This interview is part of Aloud, a speakers series hosted by The Library Foundation of Los Angeles. Access the interview here. Read more about the Aloud series here.
I-LABS Co-Directors Featured in New Documentary
I-LABS co-directors Patricia Kuhl and Andrew Meltzoff are among the national experts featured in No Small Matter. Drs. Kuhl and Meltzoff discuss cutting-edge research that demonstrates the importance of early experiences for children’s brain development. The I-LABS magnetoencephalography (MEG) machine is also featured as the newest way to study the developing brain. Executive Produced and narrated by Alfre Woodard, No Small Matter describes … Read More
I-LABS Research Sheds Light On Children’s Race and Gender Identities
The current national conversations about race are both necessary and difficult. It is important to anchor these conversations in what we know about children’s development. Former I-LABS researcher Onnie Rogers, now a faculty member at Northwestern University, and I-LABS co-Director Andrew Meltzoff investigated the origins of children’s race and gender identities. The research was originally published in Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Read that article here. … Read More