Neuroscience

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Neuroscience and Adult Learning
by Louis Cozolino Susan Sprokay
EDLD 6323 An Adult Learning Model for Managing
Life Transition and Change
Presented by Ruben Peña, Jr. Duke
Roberson September 13,2006
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BRAIN
Social Organ
Learns Through Shared Experiences
Interactive Discovery
Various ways of -Perceiving -Organizing -Lear
ning about the world
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Plasticity and Learning
Brain Shaped by Evolution to Adapt
Ability to Learn Dependent on Neural Plasticity
Neural Plasticity Reflects -Ability of neuron
to change structure -Ability to change
relationship to one another -Changes according
to environmental demands
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Plasticity and Learning
Rats raised in challenging environment -Increas
e in Cortex Size -Increase in Length of
Neuron -Increase in Number of Synapses -Increase
in Level of Neurotransmitters -Increase in
Growth of Hormones
Human Brains React the Same
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Plasticity and Learning
Birds Learn Singing -Exposed to live birds
Positive Social Interaction
Nurturance
Proper social relationship stimulates neural
plasticity
Like Birds People Engage More Effectively In
Learning -Face-to-face -Mind-to-mind -Heart-to
-heart
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Plasticity and Learning
Successful Psychotherapy That Enhances Neural
Plasticity
-Safe and Trusting Relationship -Activates
Neural Circuitry
-Moderate Level of Arousal -Maximizes
Biochemical Processes
-Activation of Thinking and Feeling -Executive
Brain Systems Able to Coordinate Activity in
Support of Learning
-Language of Self-Reflection -Integration of
Memory/Affect Regulation/Organization
-Construction of Narrative Reflecting
Positive/Optimistic Self -Support Memory -Guide
for Future Behavior
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The Social Brain
Western Philosophy -Concept Thinker as Solitary
Humans are Social Creatures
Humans Regulate others Internal Biological States
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The Social Brain
1970s Researchers Study Social Brain
-Social Neuroscience -Interpersonal
Neurobiology -Affective Neuroscience
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The Social Brain
Players in Social Emotional Behavior
-Sensory, Motor, Cognitive Emotional
Processing Streams
Humans in Constant Two-Way Communication
(Unconscious)
-Facial Expressions -Physical Contact -Eye
Gaze -Pupil Dilation -Blushing
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Stress Learning
Learning Maximized During Moderate State of
Arousal
-Low ArousalUn-motivated
-High Arousal-Unable to Attend
Moderate Level of Arousal -Increases
production of Neurotransmitters -Increases
production of Growth Hormones -Enhances Neural
Connections -Enhances Cortical Reorganization
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Stress Learning
Hindrances to Learning -Stress in Learning
Environment -Negative Memories from Past
Learning -Problems in Students Life
Brain Biased to Bad
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Stress Learning
Creating Supportive Learning Experiences Can
Rebuild Brain
Mentor in Adult Brain Development Nurturer
in Child Brain Development
Brain Learns Best in Trusting Relationship
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Thinking and Feeling
The orbitofrontal cortex is a small area of the
brain that is located just behind the eyes. It is
involved in cognitive and affective functions
such as assessing emotional significance of
events, anticipating rewards and punishments,
adjusting behaviors to adapt to changes in rule
contingencies, and inhibiting inappropriate
behaviors.
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Department of  Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Grant Number 5P01HD035471-05 LOVELAND,
KATHERINE A. Associate Professor
ORBITOFRONTAL LIMBIC DYSFUNCTION IN AUTISM
Abstract The proposed project will examine the
basis of autism in the developing brain. The
primary hypothesis of the Program Project is that
developmental impairment of the orbit
frontal-limbic circuit of the brain, including
the mesial-orbitofrontal cortex (M-ORB) and
amygdale, is a biological marker for autism and
that the characteristic socio- emotional deficits
of persons with autism are related to
developmental impairment of this circuit.
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Teachers who relay factual information and
encourage critical thinking are most effective
when acting as mentors.
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"Burton Kaplan has the rare ability to teach
musicians of every kind - he finds what the
individual needs in his or her playing and gives
them the information necessary for improvement.
He is one of the most effective teachers
around."Erin Higuchi, ViolistMilwaukee Symphony
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Such approaches helps reduce stress in the class
and thus reduces internal student stress and
allowing for better processing of information.
It is very difficult to stimulate a stressed
brain.
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The Positive Effect of Caring
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• When a parent takes their child somewhere and
  relates to them what they have observed and
  reviews the event with them, they are setting up
  their brain for future learning. In this manner
  they have allowed their child to process for them
  selves how they fit into the sequence of events
  in a non-stressful manner.

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When the State assumed the responsibility for the
education of the child, it was upon the
assumption that it could do more for the child
than the parents could do by virtue of the
greater power that it possessed it put aside
parental affection and natural desire, and
determined that, no matter what attitude the home
might take upon the quantity and quality of
instruction, every child must conform to all the
educational laws made by the State in its own
interest. By Magee Pratt, published in The
Mothers Magazine, September 1909
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The parental nurturing process allows the childs
emotions to relax and the non-verbal holistic
right side of the brain to communicate with the
logical/verbal left side of the brain. That
seems simplistic, but have you ever tried to
communicate with an out of control crying three
year old.
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Ron never planned on being a teacher. After
college, he traveled around the world, living
a life full of adventurebut after getting
terribly sick, he ended up back at home in
rural North Carolina, teaching at a local
school. After five years of teaching, he
heard about schools in East Harlem, New York
that were failing because of a lack of good
teachers. "It was like a vision to come and
help," he said. "And so I said, 'I'm going to
do it.'" Ron packed his bags, headed to East
Harlem, and found a teaching job. Before
school started, Ron went to every single
student's home and met with the family. He gave
his students his home phone number in case they
had any trouble with their assignments. To
connect with his students, Ron knew he had to
prove that he cared. He learned to double Dutch,
he taught by rapping lessons, and he spent his
personal time taking students to New York
attractions.
Ron Clark Disney Teacher of the Year
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A teachers role is to decrease stress so to
balance hemispheric functioning, just like the
parent of a young child do!
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The Narrative of the LearnerNarratives play two
rolesMemory ToolsExpression of Self Esteem
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• Memory Tools
• Rote Memory of a list is far more difficult when
  learning just the list.
• But associate that list with a story. Now the
  brain is using the associative strips of the
  brain . Linking the list to known knowledge and
  imprinting the brain with new knowledge.

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Self Esteem

• A learners self narrative (hidden voice) become
  the voice of the self-fulfilling prophecy.

This is can happen as the by-product of negative
educational experiences and affects adult
education.
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You are not alone

• Relax
• Focus
• Keep At It

Trust, Dialogue, and Healing Proceed Genuine
Learning
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WISDOM

• The adult learner tends to learn better because
  they have the ability to relate learning to an
  experience.

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Wisdom involves the integrations of thoughts and
feelings, and blending of experiences,
perspectives, understanding, and compassions.
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The adult brain tends to lend itself more to
story telling as a mode of teaching.Which makes
sense, teaching based on experience or wisdom.
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The more we go beyond the traditional two
dimensional methods of instruction the more
different parts of the brain we will stimulate
when we teach!