Section 1: The Neuroscience of Learning Flashcards
Which of the following best describes cognition?
A: the physical structure of the brain
B: the process of moving and coordinating muscles
C: the ability to see and hear
D: the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing, and using information
D: the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing, and using information
What is the brain development timeline?
Prenatal, Birth, Newborn, Early Childhood, Adolescence, Adulthood
Formations of the brain cells begin in the womb
Prenatal
The brain begins a rapid period of growth
Newborn
Pruning begins and myelination continues
Early Childhood
Brain development processes continue
Adolescence
Brain development begins to slow down
Adulthood
The study of the brain and nervous system
Neuroscience
Thinking activities such as remembering, understanding, problems-solving, and decision-making, including how people get, use, and store information in their minds
Cognition
Tiny cells in the brain that work together like an extensive communication network
Neurons
Plays a crucial role in acquiring new knowledge, honing cognitive skills, and adapting to the challenges of formal education
Neurodevelopment
Part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord; oversees important jobs like keeping the heart beating regularly, controlling breathing, managing blood flow, and controlling automatic actions like sneezing and swallowing
Brain Stem
Deep in the brain, it is like an emotional control center helping handle feelings like happiness, fear, and sadness
Limbic system
Located at the back of the head, the “little brain” helps control voluntary muscle movements, posture, and balance
Cerebellum
The front part of the brain responsible for controlling movement, body temperature, and thinking skills like speaking, problem-solving, and decision-making; it also handles sensory tasks like seeing, hearing, and feeling touch
Cerebrum
Plays a crucial role in decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation
Prefrontal Cortex
True or False: cognition encompasses processes such as memory, perception, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making
True
True or False: the prefrontal cortex is responsible for balance, coordination, and motor control
False
What is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) primarily used for?
A: Evaluating blood flow in arteries
B: Visualizing soft tissue organs
C: Mapping brain activity
D: Detecting fractures in bones
C: Mapping brain activity
The initial processing of information, where sensory input is transformed into a from that the brain can store and use
Encoding
Retaining this encoded information over time, while retrieval is the process of getting stored information when needed
Storage
Plays a vital role in refining our learning strategies by providing information about our performance, guiding future actions
Feedback
Involves awareness and understanding of one’s thinking processes, enabling learners to monitor and regulate their learning effectively
Metacognition
Actively recalling information from memory, such as answering questions or completing quizzes, which strengthens long-term retention
Retrieval Practice
Spacing out study sessions over time rather than cramming all at once, which promotes better retention and understanding
Spacing
Mixing up different types of problems or topics during study sessions, which enhances learning by promoting deeper understanding and transfer of knowledge
Interleaving
Using feedback from assessments and evaluations to reflect on and regulate one’s own learning strategies and understanding
Feedback Driven Metacognition
Introducing challenges or obstacles during learning to cultivate resilience and enhance overall
Desirable Difficulty
Investigates how people learn, encompassing psychology, neuroscience, education, and computer science to understand the cognitive processes, behaviors, and environments that facilitate learning and knowledge acquisition
Learning Science
Arise from solid empirical research or methods show to positively affect classroom learning
Research-Based Practices
Practices informed by evidence from studies conducted in educational research and learning science
Evidence-Based Practices
the set of mental skills that help individuals plan, focus their attention, and remember instructions successfully
executive function
Ways executive function can support learning
Planning, Working Memory, Self-Regulation, Organization, and Flexibility
Select all learning strategies that contribute to long-term retention
Cramming
Feedback
Retrieval Practice
Multitasking
Feedback
Retrieval Practice
True or False: Storage involves actively recalling information from memory
False
What term describes the process of accessing stored information when needed?
Retrieval
the practice of studying intensively in a short period before an exam
Cramming
The ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously
Multitasking
How does cramming affect the cerebrum?
A: it minimizes the role of the cerebrum in learning and memory
B: it activates the cerebrum, leading to improved memory formation
C: it overwhelms the cerebrum, impairing cognitive functions
D: it strengthens the cerebrum and enhances cognitive abilities
C: it overwhelms the cerebrum, impairing cognitive functions
A part of the limbic system involved in memory, learning, and emotion
Hippocampus
Explores how the brain retains information when learning is spread out over time rather than condensed
Distributed Practice
True or False: Multitasking can reduce the brainstem’s ability to regulate basic physiological functions
True
What effect can multitasking have on the cerebrum?
A: Enhancing its efficiency in processing emotional stimuli
B: Overwhelming its limited capacity and impairing cognitive functions
C: Reducing stress levels and inducing relaxation
D: Strengthening its cognitive abilities and executive functions
B: Overwhelming its limited capacity and impairing cognitive functions
What is the primary function of the hippocampus?
Maintaining attention and forming memories
What does the “myth of normal” refer to from a science of learning perspective?
A: Academic success can only be achieved through standardized testing and assessment
B:Learning outcomes are solely determined by innate intelligence or ability
C: Individual differences in learning preferences and abilities are insignificant
D: There is a single, universally optimal learning style or cognitive functioning
D: There is a single, universally optimal learning style or cognitive functioning
