Learning & The Brain Notes from 2/10 Conference

1. Learning & The BrainNotes from 2/10 Conference Lynn Fishman Hellerstein, O.D., FCOVD, FAAO Dr.H@LynnHellerstein.com 303-850-9499

2. Neuroplasticity Research Our brain is a dynamic system that has the capability of significant growth. Rudraprosad Chakraborty, M.D. J Indian Med Assoc 2007;105(9)

3. Neuroplasticity Research Neuroplasticity research has established, beyond doubt, that instead of being a static cell mass, our brain is actually a dynamic system of neural networks that has the capability of significant growth under favorable circumstances. Rudraprosad Chakraborty, M.D. J Indian Med Assoc 2007;105(9)

4. Neuroplasticity Research Research shows that adults do, in fact, exhibit neuroplasticity. You can use this innate ability to treat a variety of visual system disorders. Dominick M. Maino, O.D., M.Ed. Review Optometry (1/09)

5. Neuroplasticity & Visual System Disorders Neuroplasticity as a Proposed Mechanism for the Efficacy of Optometric Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Huang JC. J Behav Optom 2009;20:96-100 …70% all sensory input fibers to brain is related to vision and visual processing, optometrists can play a major role in the rehabilitation of visually-related deficits

6. Research - Stress Relaxation response physical and emotional responses to stress can be changed State of deep rest that decreases metabolism, slows the heart beat, relaxes the muscles, slows breathing, reduced BP, increases nitric oxide

7. ResearchStress If practiced-lasting effects Herbert Benson’s Harvard “Relaxation Response” http://www.mbmi.org/basics/whatis.asp

8. Research Emotions, Mind & Body - Candace Pert PhD Emotions are both energy and matter and are the communication bridge between the mind and body. Suggests the body is the subconscious Emotions and thoughts effect our body, but are not permanently hard- wired

9. The 2nd Brain • Dr. Michael Gerson • Chair Anatomy & Physiology Columbia Medical Center • 100M Neurons in the gut • Esophagus-Anus • Gut does much more than digests • Impacts emotions & moods

10. Research - Visualization Same parts of the brain light up on MRI when person looks at an actual object, or if they imagine the same object in their mind Basketball Study Evolve Your Brain: The Science of Changing Your Mind by Dr. Joe Dispenza 2007 “What the Bleep” http://www.drjoedispenza.com

11. Research - Visualization We can release our emotions and thoughts and rewire our neuro-networks This is how visualization can affect physical/brain changes

12. Dr. Susan Barry Is Vision Therapy Just for Kids?

13. 12 Brain Rules – John Medina Ph.D. The brain is an amazing thing. Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know. Dr. John Medina- Developmental Molecular Biologist

14. 12 Brain Rules • Exercise boosts brain power • Human brain evolved too • Every brain is wired differently • We don’t pay attention to boring things • Repeat to remember • Remember to repeat

15. 12 Brain Rules • Sleep well, think well • Stressed brains don’t learn the same way • Stimulate more of the senses • VISION trumps all other senses WE SEE WITH OUR BRAINS • Male and female brains are different • We are powerful natural explorers

16. Brain Research • Create an education environment opposed to what the brain is good at • Classroom • Create a business environment opposed to what the brain is good at doing • Cubicle • Want to change things? • Start over!

17. Intelligence Is BiologyRichard Haier, PhD Brain structure and metabolic efficiency may underlie individual differences in intelligence Imaging research is pinpointing which regions are key players

18. Intelligence Is BiologyRichard Haier, PhD Smart brains work in different way Women and men with same IQ show different underlying brain architectures Individual’s pattern of gray and white matter might underlie his specific cognitive strengths & weaknesses

19. Intelligence Is BiologyRichard Haier, PhD • What about new drugs & tools for cognitive enhancement? • Scans instead of SAT?

20. Heredity, Environment, & Race Differences in IQ

21. Heredity, Environment, & Race Differences in IQ • Black – white IQ gap is NOT hereditary • Adoption and intervention programs produce substantial lasting effects on black IQ • At-risk kids- need intervention

22. Mindset – Robert Brooks

23. Mindset – Robert Brooks • Assumptions & Expectations we have about self and others guide our behavior • Strategies are worthless unless you believe in them & yourself

24. Mindset – Robert Brooks • With kids with learning problems, need to change their mindsets • Motivating environment: • People being cooperative • Willing to learn from each other • Willing to take risks because they feel safe & secure • All parties feel a sense of ownership

25. Cultivating Emotional Intelligence

26. Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D

27. Cultivating Emotional Intelligence • Emotions guide cognitive learning • Helps kids to build a set of academic “intuitions” about how, when, and why to use their new knowledge

28. Cultivating Emotional Intelligence • 11% increase in standardized testing with Social Emotional Learning • Bathing suit study • Relaxation

29. How Your Child Learns Best

30. How Your Child Learns Best • What is the biggest fear of students? • Not being liked by the teacher • Bad grades • Making a mistake in front of the class

31. How Your Child Learns Best • What is the biggest fear of students? • Making a mistake in front of the class

32. How Your Child Learns Best • Everything we learn comes to the brain through our senses • Brain can’t process billions of bits of info every sec. • Equipped with filters to protect from overload & focus on the data most critical for survival.

33. How Your Child Learns Best Helping your child turn information into KNOWLEDGE RAD Learning = RAS + Amygdala + Dopamine

35. How Your Child Learns Best RAS – Reticular activating system • Located at brain stem (lower back of brain) • Receives input from nerves from arms, legs, trunk, neck, face, internal organs • Sets the state of arousal alerts brain to change & gets it primed

36. How Your Child Learns Best • Selects for intake the sensory input (info) it “values” for survival or pleasure • RAS responsive to novelty, surprise, color, curious events • Lectures, drills & worksheets are NOT novel or engaging- don’t power info thru RAS brain filter

37. How Your Child Learns Best Amygdala – next filter • Sensory data passes through brain’s emotional core, limbic system (amygdala & hippocampus) • Emotional significance is linked to info • Kennedy

38. How Your Child Learns Best • When stress is high, amygdala diverts info to the reflex automatic system, non-thinking reactions (flight/fight) • When amygdala is in a safe state and emotions are positive, info is passed on to the memory-making and thinking networks in the brain

39. How Your Child Learns Best • Stress, boredom, frustration or confusion block the flow of info through amygdala to the thinking brain • When learning is associated with pleasure, the amygdala “stamps” that info with increased memory impact

40. How Your Child Learns Best Dopamine – Neurotransmitter Carry info across synapses • Released when experience is pleasurable

41. How Your Child Learns Best Dopamine – Neurotransmitter • Elicited through humor, friends, achievement • Increases focus, attention and executive function in the frontal lobes

42. How Your Child Learns Best You need brain-friendly strategies to empower your child to respond to the most useful sensory input from the environment and turn that data into retained knowledge

43. Dr. Judith Willis “I guide students in activities that help them focus and achieve positive moods to prime themselves for learning. We practice techniques to increase mindfulness.”

44. Dr. Judith Willis “For example, students learn to do visualizations, deliberately recalling in detail a place where they felt happy, calm, and safe.”

45. Dr. Judith Willis The more learners practice visualizing their particular calming place, the stronger the neural network holding that memory becomes;

46. Dr. Judith Willis Eventually, the students can easily return to that memory whenever they feel stressed.

47. Dr. Judith Willis Returning to that safe place enables learners to let new information that someone is presenting flow into their thinking brain rather than being filtered out.

48. Neuroplasticity When the action is repeated, the more dendrites sprout to connect new memories to old ones, stronger the connections become, the more efficient the brain becomes at retrieving that memory or action

49. How Your Child Learns Best This teaches students how they can change their intelligence by teaching them about their brains I study because I CAN CHANGE MY BRAIN

50. How Your Child Learns Best http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el200912_willis.pdf http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/dec09/vol67/num04/How_to_Teach_Students_About_the_Brain.aspx