3. Education

Question 1

plasticity and crit periods

Answer 1

<2yrs synapses form
2-6yrs pruning

crit period for plasticity with opening mechanisms and closing mechanisms
ocular dominance in cats and language crit period.
maybe crit period for sociability

diff brain regions/functions have diff crit periods. move from primary areas to association in devo (important for education intervention)

Question 2

sleep and exercise for learning

Answer 2

sleep makes memories last longer and inc. hippo activity
exercise inc. hippo volume and boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurogenesis in hippo

Question 3

curiosity and learning

Answer 3

curiosity activates dopamine circuit
higher curiosity = activity in nucleus accumbens and SN/VTA
also benefits memory and learning

Question 4

stress and learning

Answer 4

stress impacts emotion regulation (mPFC and amygdala), motivation (mPFC and VTA), and attention (lateral PFC and parietal)
meditation can reduce stress, improve att’n and connectivity in brain

Question 5

learning styles

Answer 5

no difference in test scores for learning style (visual learners did same in hearing/looking condition)
but auditory learners did worse in both listen/read conditions (need to focus getting literacy to children)