PREFRONTAL

CORTEX

Getting to the Prefrontal Cortex

Reactive Unconscious Responses

Reflective Conscious

Control

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Stress State Lower reactive brain in control

Fight Flight

Freeze

Fight: Disruptive Flight: Withdrawal Freeze: Zone out

Stress State Behavior Outputs

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•  Unprepared for class •  Peer relationships

•  Lack of long-term goals or material doesn’t seem relevant to student’s goals • Frustration due to previous failure to understand or do well in the topic •  Test-taking anxiety and oral presentations

Causes of Stress in School

Survival in animals Reduced effort in students !!

Repeated Failure Fixed Mindset

Follow the Computer

Game Model

For Amygdala Positive Attitude & Growth Mindset

The PULL of Video Games

He’s so close to Level 10 he doesn’t even want to go out for pizza

u  80% of the time failure

u  buy-in to goal

u  persevere with challenge u  use immediate feedback to improve

Characteristics Video Gamers

The Pull? 1.  Goal buy-in

2. Achievable Challenge 3. Incremental Progress Awareness (intrinsic satisfaction)

The PULL Is powered by Dopamine

A Mood Booster & Motivator

Pleasure & Decreased Stress Curiosity Attention Motivation Persistence and perseverance Memory

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Moving Being read to Interacting well with peers Experiencing humor Choice Optimism

BOOSTERS

Is your brain motivated the potential of intrinsic satisfaction from knowing if a prediction it makes is correct?

Prediction for Intrinsic Satisfaction

Why Did You Need to Know?

u  wants to predict for intrinsic satisfaction

u  needs to know if predictions are correct

u  learns from feedback

Accurate predictions activate dopamine release (pleasure) so the brain:

Children need to see frequent connections between their work and their progress (to build on the intrinsic satisfaction). Effort=Progress to Goal

Incremental Progress

Incremental Progress Effort to goal progress graph

TOTAL TIME PRACTICED

Number of successful attempts

www.onlinecharttool.com

Using the game model of achievable challenge and incremental goal progress feedback, children are motivated to persevere through challenges

So children want to learn what they need to learn

GOAL

By seeing products or possibilities…

Promote curiosity and prediction about school topics Connect with your child’s interests Family history, photos Friends who use information in interesting jobs

Prime the Brain “Buy-in” for Learning

How their brains turn data into knowledge

Acting out/zoning out is brain’s adaptive stress response Neuroplasticity=Potential Genius is more than genes Past performance does not limit future success

Important BOM Messages from Neuroscience for Parents & Children

You can change your brain’s social, emotional, and cognitive intelligence

When children understand the neuroplasticity they know the “why” for: •  doing assignments •  participation •  understanding concepts •  making mistakes!

Knowing Why

Strengthening, revising, and extending of neuronal networks in response activation

Neuroplasticity

More synapses

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Prefrontal cortex

Synapse Neuron

Axon with myelin

Dendrite

é

More dendrites

More myelin

+

It is by neurons making connections with one another that learning can occur

Each time you use brain networks they get stronger and more permanent

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A congested highway is like the flow of brain traffic when there are few connections available to get to the same place.

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Neuroplasticity: More connections move traffic more quickly

Neuroplasticity

PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT

Executive Functions: The Skill Sets for the

21st Century

•  To evaluate new information and modify understanding as information increases and “facts” change

•  Use new technology as it becomes available

To find solutions for problems we have yet to recognize

Wes Frye (Cisco Systems)

Prefrontal Cortex

The PFC holds an executive function system that, when exercised and developed, can become our brain’s successful CEO.

   

 

Prefrontal Cortex

Pruning and myelination from age 5-25

Prefrontal Cortex

Prefrontal Cortex Prefrontal

Cortex

Pruning and myelination from age 5-20

Prefrontal Cortex

Prefrontal Cortex

Most active maturation: 5-20

Can be developed to:

•  evaluate new information

•  modify understanding as information increases and “facts” change

•  use new technology as it becomes available

Neural Networks of Executive Function

A trillion connections are made as the baby experiences life. Experience sculpts the brain.

The Executive Functions

Let’s have the cat and dog show us what some are

Analyze Prioritize Plan goals Assess risk Adapt Organize Comprehend communication nuances Considered decision making Delay immediate gratification Judgment Tolerance Empathy

Executive Functions are the Skill sets for 21st Century Success

REMEMBER The Dog

!

Those participants with high levels of self-control activated the “executive function” PFC Those less able to delay gratification activated the more emotional lower brain regions

Marshmallow Test

More strongly associated with school readiness & success than IQ or entry-level reading or math skills •  inhibitory control (resisting habits,

temptations, or distractions) •  working memory (patterning experiences)

•  cognitive flexibility (adjusting to change)  

Executive Functions in Young Children

Blair C, and Razza RP. (2007)

Can be developed to:

•  evaluate new information

•  modify understanding as information increases and “facts” change

•  use new technology as it becomes available

Neural Networks of Executive Function

•  Opportunities to practice accurate and logical interpretation of new information •  Develop habits of mind (critical analysis, creative problem solving)

PFC Proper Care and Feeding

Opportunities for making and evaluating decisions (Trips and Purchases) Shared internet explorations Ask questions and actively listen (no interrupting, correcting , multitasking, or personal anecdotes)

Information Analysis & Communication

•  Recognize the difference between fact and opinion (TV commercials, internet sites, best restaurant)

•  Ask for their opinions and reasons

•  Defend personal opinions with facts

•  Predict arguments against theirs and prepare responses

 

Summary

•  PFC is last part of brain to mature

•  Use of executive functions promotes their greater development

•  Along the way use the dopamine boosters

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Judy Willis’ Website for Brain Owner’s Manual free articles