Monthly Archives: February 2018

understanding brain waves

Surfing Brain Waves to Better Concentration

What’s the difference between a gamma and a delta wave? Why do we care? This video from BrainFacts.org offers lively explanations to help you understand brain waves. You’ll also learn more about the technology we use to measure them —



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pollution harms working memory

Does Pollution Really Harm Children’s Working Memory?

Pollution harms students’ working memory, both on their commute to school and in the classroom. Until we can solve this larger social problem, a less polluted route to school should be explored. Continue reading



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investigating mindfulness

Investigating Mindfulness: How Do We Know Its Benefits?

We would, of course, like to see studies with larger sample sizes, active control conditions, longer-term evaluation of results and so forth. This study find some positive trends, but overall isn’t impressed with the research progress over the last 13 years. Continue reading



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sleeplessness harms women

Sleeplessness Harms Women’s Thinking More Than Men’s?

You can understand why this study lit up my twitter feed recently. It makes a remarkable claim: women — but not men — experience working memory declines after a sleepless night. Why We Care We have at least two powerful



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neuroplasticity and myelin

Neuroplasticity and Myelin: Fascinating Brain Mysteries

Neuroplasticity and myelin are critical for the brain’s lifelong development, and essential for some of its most remarkable accomplishments. Continue reading



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The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

In their new book The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child, Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson offer parents guidance about how to support their children in “say[ing] yes to the world.” They



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motivation vs. IQ

Motivation vs. IQ: Which Is More Important?

In the “motivation vs. IQ” debate, the Gottfrieds’ research suggests that intrinsic love of learning sets students on a path to lifetime fulfillment. And, parents can help them get there by encouraging curiosity. Continue reading



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outdoor learning advantage

Surprise! The Unexpected Outdoor Class Advantage

But do your students have a point? Might there be good reasons to move class outside every now and then? Continue reading



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Getting the Best Advice about Learning

Occasionally I try to persuade people that neuroscience is fantastically complicated. In other words: we shouldn’t beat ourselves up if we don’t master it all. Today I spotted a headline that makes my point for me:   Hippocampus-driven feed-forward inhibition



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read research skeptically

You Are Not a Nile Grass Rat…

Teachers should pay close attention to neuroscience and psychology research done on people. However, you should NEVER change your teaching practice based on research into non-human animals. Continue reading



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