the brain how do we enhance its power to work for us ? prepared by dr. mary custureri from material...
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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
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..
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
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
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