Advancing the Learning Sciences Using MEG Technology

在西雅图华盛顿大学LIFE中心交付和安装新的脑磁图设备之前，通过提供旅行资金和培训研究者和研究生使用脑磁图技术的研讨会，这是一项促进认知心理学和神经科学跨学科工作的提议。旅行将前往赫尔辛基工业大学的低温和生物医学实验室，这是芬兰赫尔辛基的MEG专业中心。赫尔辛基和西雅图实验室的研究人员合作开发了适用于学习研究的MEG的新用途，以及适当的头部跟踪技术，以便对从事认知任务（如学习）的清醒婴儿进行全脑成像研究。MEG是目前唯一适用于清醒婴儿的全脑成像技术。研究的主要领域是婴儿的第一语言和第二语言学习。行为研究已经证实，非常小的婴儿的大脑在6到12个月大的时候开始专注于周围的语言。脑磁图研究的目的是准确地追踪无论是单语者还是双语者，在经历这种专业化过程的婴儿大脑中发生了什么。这项为期一年的4.5万美元申请是为了支持六个学习科学中心的研究人员以及华盛顿大学的两名研究生前往赫尔辛基，并支持在赫尔辛基举办一个名为“作为学习科学工具的脑磁动图技术”的国际研讨会。该研讨会将由PI和华盛顿大学生命中心的合作伙伴组织。

This is a proposal to advance interdisciplinary work in cognitive psychology and neuroscience by providing funds for travel and a workshop to train investigators and graduate students in the use of MEG (Magnetoencephalography) technology prior to the delivery and installation of new MEG equipment at the LIFE center at the University of Washington in Seattle. Travel will be to the Low Temperature and BioMag Laboratories at the Helsinki University of Technology, centers of MEG expertise in Helsinki, Finland. Investigators at the labs in Helsinki and in Seattle have collaborated to develop novel uses of MEG applicable to the study of learning, and appropriate head-tracking techniques to allow whole-brain imaging studies in awake infants who are engaged in cognitive tasks such as learning. MEG is the only currently available whole-brain imaging technology that is appropriate for use with awake infants.The primary area of study is first and second language learning in infants. Behavioral studies have established that the brains of very young babies begin to specialize in the ambient language between 6 and 12 months of age. The purpose of the MEG studies will be to track exactly what is going on in the brains of infants undergoing this specialization process, as either monolinguals or bilinguals.The request of $45,000 for one year is to support travel to Helsinki by investigators from six Science of Learning Centers, plus two graduate students from the University of Washington, and to support an international workshop in Helsinki on MEG technology to be called "MEG as a Tool for the Learning Sciences." The workshop is to be organized by the PI and associates from the LIFE Center at the University of Washington.