THE BRAINTHE BRAIN

How do we enhance its power to work for us?

Prepared by Dr. Mary Custureri from material included in Instructional Strategies: Helping All Students Succeed. Custureri, Mary, Maureen Goldstein and Ann Frearson. Washington, D.C.: NCEA, 2004.) and PEP Parents: Powerfully Effective Parents. Custureri, Mary

What does brain research What does brain research reveal? reveal?

““All mental activity has a physical All mental activity has a physical basis, with electrical and basis, with electrical and chemical reactions occurring chemical reactions occurring constantly in the billions of nerve constantly in the billions of nerve cells of the brain.” (Wartik, 47)cells of the brain.” (Wartik, 47)

The brain and neurons The brain and neurons (nerve cells)(nerve cells)

Center of brain is like a large transmitterCenter of brain is like a large transmitter Transmitter has branches to connection points Transmitter has branches to connection points

connecting to thousands of other pointsconnecting to thousands of other points There are billions of interacting neurons or There are billions of interacting neurons or

nerve cells inside the brain nerve cells inside the brain A trillion “glial” cells support neurons through A trillion “glial” cells support neurons through

important functions.important functions. Stimulation from sights and sounds is Stimulation from sights and sounds is

processed, collated and conveyed through processed, collated and conveyed through neuron cells at very fast speedsneuron cells at very fast speeds

Networks of the brainNetworks of the brain

Components of a neuronComponents of a neuron

NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitters

Thousands of chemical molecules act as Thousands of chemical molecules act as neutransmitters from the 100 billion neutransmitters from the 100 billion neurons (like a computer)neurons (like a computer)

Information stored in the dendrites is used Information stored in the dendrites is used to process up to millions of pieces of to process up to millions of pieces of information each secondinformation each second

These form new dendrite branchesThese form new dendrite branches Information goes to other cells with Information goes to other cells with

electrical impulses (axions, axle or axis) to electrical impulses (axions, axle or axis) to a synapse (connecting gap)a synapse (connecting gap)

Another action adds on to another, etc..Another action adds on to another, etc..

Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters ActivityActivity

Neurotransmitters and Neurotransmitters and CommunicationCommunication

Strengthening the BrainStrengthening the Brain

Learn to perform tasks in a semi-Learn to perform tasks in a semi-automatic fashion (The brain automatic fashion (The brain requires less glucose)requires less glucose)

When you play an instrument or When you play an instrument or participate in a sport, practice helps participate in a sport, practice helps you to become more skillfulyou to become more skillful

Familiar tasks require less thought and Familiar tasks require less thought and preparationpreparation

Practice (through homework, essays, Practice (through homework, essays, grammar, reading, math) strengthens grammar, reading, math) strengthens the brain and accelerates new learningthe brain and accelerates new learning

Learning and the brainLearning and the brainTired students cannot learn well Tired students cannot learn well Many students are sleep-Many students are sleep-depriveddeprivedCaffeine, over-scheduling Caffeine, over-scheduling activities, too much TV, video activities, too much TV, video games, snacks deprive the braingames, snacks deprive the brainPhysical disorders, emotional Physical disorders, emotional difficulties, medications, anxiety, difficulties, medications, anxiety, EVEN SNORING cause harm.EVEN SNORING cause harm.The circadian or biological clock The circadian or biological clock goes out of whack with sleep goes out of whack with sleep deprivationdeprivation

BRAIN ACTIVITYBRAIN ACTIVITYAlpha brain Alpha brain activityactivity

An alert, An alert, relaxed personrelaxed person

Functions wellFunctions well

8-12 cycles 8-12 cycles

per secondper second

Beta-Beta-wave act.wave act.

A wide awake A wide awake focused focused person thinks, person thinks, clearly, speaks clearly, speaks and thinks and thinks logicallylogically

13-25 cycles 13-25 cycles perper

secondsecond

** The bestThe best

Theta Theta wave wave activityactivity

A less alert, A less alert, tired person tired person has poor has poor concentration concentration

4-7 cycles 4-7 cycles per per secondsecond

Delta Delta wave wave activityactivity

A tired, sleepy A tired, sleepy or sleeping or sleeping person person absorbs very absorbs very littlelittle

.05 – 3 .05 – 3 cycles per cycles per secondsecond

Stress interferes with Stress interferes with learninglearning

WHAT A PERSON NEEDS TO WHAT A PERSON NEEDS TO FUNCTION BESTFUNCTION BEST

Health check-upHealth check-up

Diet improvement (neurotransmitters Diet improvement (neurotransmitters in brain affected by diet)in brain affected by diet)

Physical activityPhysical activity

SleepSleep

De-stressing activitiesDe-stressing activities

STRESS … … … …STRESS … … … …

STRESS

Too much overload

Not enough preparation

Over-anxiety

Too much leads to failure

NEED: Counseling, help, change in habits, organization

How we rememberHow we rememberWhy we forgetWhy we forget

Rate of forgetfulnessRate of forgetfulness

Ebbinhaus: He researched. After 24 hours Ebbinhaus: He researched. After 24 hours we forget 75% of what we hear or seewe forget 75% of what we hear or see

Second time we study something: Forget Second time we study something: Forget about 50%about 50%

Third time, forget about 25% and will retain Third time, forget about 25% and will retain 75% always.75% always.

Memory jogs helpMemory jogs help Strategies to jog memory helpStrategies to jog memory help Utilizing learning strengths to memorize Utilizing learning strengths to memorize

helpshelps

HOW PEOPLE LEARNHOW PEOPLE LEARN

Acquiring Acquiring knowledgeknowledge

Storing Storing knowledgeknowledge

Demonstrating Demonstrating knowledgeknowledge

Prior experiencesPrior experiences

ReadingReading

vocabularyvocabulary

VisualizingVisualizing

Note-taking tech.Note-taking tech.

mnemonicsmnemonics

Test-taking skills Test-taking skills for various testsfor various tests

Pre-planning strat.Pre-planning strat.

Paraphrasing,Paraphrasing,

Analyzing, listeningAnalyzing, listening

Note-takingNote-taking

JinglesJingles

Sentences w/key Sentences w/key lettersletters

Essay writing Essay writing basicsbasics

Analytical thinkingAnalytical thinking

Math skillsMath skills

Research skillsResearch skills

Strategies to fit a Strategies to fit a person’s learning person’s learning stylestyle

Understanding lit. Understanding lit. and writing and writing purposespurposes