Attention as a Bridge Between Education and Brain Plasticity

• In Event: 67.036 - International State-of-the-Art Symposium: Recent Connections Between Brain, Neuroscience, and Education

Abstract

Science of Learning studies have set out to enrich our understanding of education by linking multiple disciplines. For example, educational studies aimed at understanding elements of effective pedagogy and neural studies of how circuits reorganize in the face of supportive and challenging learning experiences hold significant potential for meaningful interaction and cross-disciplinary enhancement. Such transfer, however, has been limited by a number of challenges, not the least of which center around a lack of bridging constructs that can be informed and refined by both fields. This talk focuses on the construct of attention – as it may be directed and guided by a teacher within a learning challenge-- as such a bridging construct. review several fMRI and brainwave studies (EEG) from the domain of early literacy and early numeracy, to illustrate how such a bridging construct may aid in adding bi-directional value across these disciplines. Such studies reveal how the subtle choices a skilled teacher can make in focusing a learner’s attention may have a profound impact on circuit level plasticity during learning.

Author

• Bruce McCandliss, Stanford University