The University of Washington Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS) kicked off a multi-million dollar effort today to unlock how children learn, unveiling a cutting edge brain-imaging machine that can map what happens inside the brains of babies and toddlers as they react to their world.

The magnetoencephalography (or MEG) brain imaging machine – the first of its kind in the world to focus on the study of infants and young children – is a “stethoscope” for the mind that shows how a child’s brain changes as they listen and react in other ways. The technological breakthrough is similar to jumping from a static photo to color motion video, one researcher said.

The machine is housed in a new brain imaging center at the UW and part of I-LABS’ broader Developing Mind Project that will encourage new research on the brain and how children learn and share findings to improve the real world of early learning. World-renowned scientists Drs. Patricia Kuhl and Andrew Meltzoff are co-directors of I-LABS.

To help get research into the hands of child care providers, parents, policymakers and business and community leaders around the state to improve learning in the first years of life, I-LABS is partnering with Thrive by Five Washington, the state’s public-private partnership for early learning.

“We need more people need to know that 85 percent of the brain is formed in the first three years of life and to see the powerful side-by-side pictures of healthy developing brains and those trying desperately to grow in toxic environments,” said Nina Auerbach, Thrive by Five Washington’s president and CEO. “With I-LABS’ knowledge and expertise and our connections throughout the state, I know our partnership will take our state's commitment to early learning to a whole new level.”

Not only will the initiative help students learn, Thrive and researchers hope it will convince more of the public that it’s critical to invest in effective early learning efforts.

“By enabling new scientific discoveries in early learning and brain development, crafting actionable recommendations based on those results, and helping to educate policymakers, teachers and parents, I-LABS will accelerate the cycle from discovery to practice in early learning.” – Summary statement of the Developing Mind Project.

The MEG brain imaging machine holds tremendous promise beyond early learning. For example, it could help unlock mysteries surrounding autism and other disorders and in diagnosing children at earlier ages. Both researchers and doctors can use the scanning technology to help patients struggling with various disorders.

“I-LABS research is critical both for new discoveries about human learning and for improving the early diagnosis of children with medical syndromes such as autism,” Lee Huntsman, executive director of the Washington State Life Sciences Discovery Fund, which provided $4 million of the $7 million needed for the machine and brain imaging center, said in a statement.

The Developing Mind Project is yet another major early learning effort to come out of Washington state. Early learning champion Gov. Chris Gregoire was on hand to help kick off the new project and open the center.

“The potential for the MEG center is incredible. It will help us look inside the minds of our youngest learners and better understand just what happens during those earliest years, so we can best support kids in growing up ready to learn and succeed,” she said in a statement.

Check out video of the new brain imaging technology here. Watch KCTS’ interview with Dr. Meltzoff. Dr. Kuhl will appear on Learning for Life this Wednesday at 8:20 a.m. on KING 5 Morning News on KONG 6/16.