LHTL - ALT 1 - BH Flashcards
Two fundamentally different modes of thinking
Focused and the Diffuse modes
Concentrating intently on something you’re trying to learn or to understand
Focused mode
A relaxed thinking style related to a set of neural resting states
Diffuse mode
Can you be in both modes of thinking at the same time?
No
How do the two modes of thinking help to learn effectively?
To learn effectively we must switch back and forth between the two modes by taking thoughts ideas from the diffused mode of thinking and building on them in focused mode.
How much energy does your brain use?
The brain weighs only 3 pounds, but consumes 10 times more energy by weight than the rest of the body
How many synapses are in your brain?
A million billion synapses
What are the connections between neurons called?
Synapses.
Neurons become linked together through repeated use.
How thin are synapses?
A micron in diameter
Human hairs are 20 microns
What happens when you think about something that you don’t want to do?
Procrastination causes you to access the part of the brain associated with pain. In order to stop this feeling of uneasiness your brain switches your attention to something else.
How can stop procrastinating?
Just begin the work, and soon after the feeling of neuro-discomfort will disappear.
The Pomodoro technique is useful for avoiding procrastination.
Why are those involving math and science, sometimes, a bit more challenging?
These are abstract ideas that aren’t tangible in the real world.
How can we better learn abstract ideas like math and science?
Practice makes permanent.
Practice with ideas and concepts you’re learning in math and science to help enhance and strengthen neural connections.
The ideas are abstract, but the neural thought patterns you are creating are real and concrete.
What technique can we use to allow the two thinking modes to help us study more effectively?
Use the Pomodoro technique to focus for 25 minutes, and then take a 5 minute break and focus on something else while allowing the diffused mode of thinking to help better understand concepts.
What study technique should be avoided?
Cramming: This will lead to a weak knowledge base because you don’t leave time for the synaptic connections to form between neurons.
You will forget what you learned through natural memory dissipation processes.
What are the two major memory systems?
Long term memory, and working memory.
The type of memory for what your immediately processing in your mind
Working memory
A storage warehouse in your mind capable of storing billions of items.
Long term memory
How many chunks of information can you hold in working memory?
Researchers believe its about 4 chunks.
Why is long term memory important to learning?
Long-term memory is important because it’s where you store fundamental concepts and techniques that are often involved in whatever you’re learning about.
How do you move new information from working memory to long-term memory?
Practice and repetition over time.
Spaced repetition.
Your brain builds up toxins just by being awake. What happens when you fall sleep?
Sleep is the brain’s way of keeping itself healthy.
Your brain cells shrink, creating space between them, and allowing fluid to flow through and flush the toxins out.
How does sleep help learning?
Neural patterns strengthen during sleep helping you to understand what you’re trying to learn.
Uniting bits of information together through meaning
Chunking
Pieces of information bound together through meaning or use
Chunks