Brainstorm…

1. Brainstorm… • What is learning? How would you define it? • Are there different types of learning? • How do you learn new facts? New skills? • Is all knowledge due to a conscious processes, or is some knowledge acquired by unconscious processes?

2. Neurological Function Theories • Plasticity- - The changing of neurons, the organization of their networks, and their function via new experiences. • Compartmentalization- - Sections of brain are specialized to perform specific tasks- includes implicit & explicit learning.

3. Explicit vs. implicit learning chart Medial Temporal Lobe Neocortex Striatum Amygdala Diencephalon Cerebellum- Sk. Musc. http://psiexp.ss.uci.edu/research/teachingP140C/Lectures2009/2009_memory_partI.ppt

4. H.M. and Implicit Learning • H.M. is a famous patient who had part of his brain removed and was no longer able to form new memories. • When performing tasks, such as mirror tracing, he was able to improve over time. • This result shows that he was capable of some types of implicit learning or “motor memory”

5. Implicit v. Explicit Learning http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=frcogimp&part=ch12&rendertype=figure&id=ch12.f7

6. Bean Bag Toss Experiment For each trial, record the following: Student: _______________ # beanbags in bucket w/out goggles: ___ # beanbags in bucket w/ goggles: ___ # beanbags in bucket after wearing goggles: ___ Notes: ____________________________________________________________________

7. HW Questions: • Explain which part of each trial demonstrated explicit and implicit learning – use evidence for your reasoning. 2. Which portions of the brain are believed to be responsible for these two types of learning? • Can explicit learning lead to implicit knowledge? Provide two justifications for your conclusion. • In your opinion, does this experiment support the brain plasticity and compartmentalization theories? Why or why not?