the brain how does learning take place and where is it stored?

The BrainThe Brain

How does learning take place and where is it stored?

How does learning take place and where is it stored?

Just the FactsJust the FactsThe brain and spinal cord make up the

Central Nervous SystemAverage human brain weighs 3 poundsBy age 6, human brain is full size40% = gray matter 60% = white matterBrain uses 20% of the oxygen supplyLack of oxygen for 3 to 5 minutes causes

brain cells to die

The brain and spinal cord make up the Central Nervous System

Average human brain weighs 3 poundsBy age 6, human brain is full size40% = gray matter 60% = white matterBrain uses 20% of the oxygen supplyLack of oxygen for 3 to 5 minutes causes

brain cells to die

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html

NeuronsNeurons Born with about 100 billion

neurons Send and receive electro-

chemical signals to and from the brain and nervous system

Cannot regrow after being damaged, unless in hippocampus

Born with about 100 billion neurons

Send and receive electro-chemical signals to and from the brain and nervous system

Cannot regrow after being damaged, unless in hippocampus

http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710

NeuronsNeurons

Dendrite: Brings information to the

cell Many dendrites branch off

from cell body No myelin insulation

Dendrite: Brings information to the

cell Many dendrites branch off

from cell body No myelin insulation

http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710

NeuronsNeurons

Axon: Takes information away

from the cell Usually only one Myelin insulation

Axon: Takes information away

from the cell Usually only one Myelin insulation

http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710

NeuronsNeurons

Myelin Sheath

Coating on axon Protects neuron Increases the electrical

transmission speeds along the axon

More myelin the better

Myelin Sheath

Coating on axon Protects neuron Increases the electrical

transmission speeds along the axon

More myelin the better

http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710

Three Main SectionsThree Main SectionsHindbrain

Midbrain

Forebrain

Hindbrain

Midbrain

Forebrain

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Learning and Memory: The Brain in Action p.34 Copyright 1999

Hindbraincontrols involuntary systems

Hindbraincontrols involuntary systems

controls heart rate and breathing

regulates flow of information

controls dreaming and waking

controls heart rate and breathing

regulates flow of information

controls dreaming and waking

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 35 copyright 1999

HindbrainHindbrainCerebellum

Controls movement and balance

Stores lots of neuronsHelps form memoriesHolds/stores procedural

memories such as“how to”“ABC’s, basic facts”

CerebellumControls movement and

balanceStores lots of neuronsHelps form memoriesHolds/stores procedural

memories such as“how to”“ABC’s, basic facts”

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 35 copyright 1999

MidbrainMidbrain

Small area that controls eye movement and opening and closing of the pupils

Small area that controls eye movement and opening and closing of the pupils

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p.34 Copyright 1999

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The Forebraincontrols parts essential to memory and learning

The Forebraincontrols parts essential to memory and learning

Thalamus Size of a walnut Information sorter like

the post office Keeps brain updated

like a software update on a computer

Thalamus Size of a walnut Information sorter like

the post office Keeps brain updated

like a software update on a computer

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

HypothalamusHypothalamus

Sends information from the body to the brain

Keeps the body in balanceMaintains body temperatureControls appetiteWorks with the pituitary

gland

Sends information from the body to the brain

Keeps the body in balanceMaintains body temperatureControls appetiteWorks with the pituitary

gland

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

Pituitary GlandPituitary Gland

Pea-sizedAt the base of the brainControls growth and

developmentRegulates hormones

Pea-sizedAt the base of the brainControls growth and

developmentRegulates hormones

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

Pineal GlandPineal Gland

Regulates flow of Melatonin, the chemical that helps you to fall asleep

Regulates flow of Melatonin, the chemical that helps you to fall asleep

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

HippocampusHippocampus

Seahorse shapedBrain’s file cabinetPuts information in correct

spot for easy retrievalSends information to long

term memory

Seahorse shapedBrain’s file cabinetPuts information in correct

spot for easy retrievalSends information to long

term memory

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

AmygdalaAmygdala

Almond shapedControls emotional

memoryIts response can change

how you react to a situation

Almond shapedControls emotional

memoryIts response can change

how you react to a situation

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

CerebrumCerebrumTop brain layerCovered by gray matter

Left side: looks at partstime orientedsequential

Right side: looks at wholesspatialcreative

Top brain layerCovered by gray matter

Left side: looks at partstime orientedsequential

Right side: looks at wholesspatialcreative

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

A Day in Life of a Brain:

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html

Stress and Your BrainStress and Your Brain

Stress chemicals block the synapses so electrical impulses cannot get through.

High stress levels may cause brain damage. Coritsol is a very destructive stress chemical.

FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS WILL ALWAYS TAKE PRIORITY OVER EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR BRAINS.

Stress chemicals block the synapses so electrical impulses cannot get through.

High stress levels may cause brain damage. Coritsol is a very destructive stress chemical.

FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS WILL ALWAYS TAKE PRIORITY OVER EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR BRAINS.

Memory LanesMemory Lanes

Memory lanes contain the files in which a memory is stored.

Learning happens when neurons communicate with each other.

Memory lanes contain the files in which a memory is stored.

Learning happens when neurons communicate with each other.

How learning worksHow learning works

Information enters through brain stemGoes to thalamus - sorterTravels to hippocampus - organizerGoes to STM If connection made to other memories

than it goes to working memoryThrough more connections over time

information travels to LTM

Information enters through brain stemGoes to thalamus - sorterTravels to hippocampus - organizerGoes to STM If connection made to other memories

than it goes to working memoryThrough more connections over time

information travels to LTM

Short term vs. Working Memory

Short term vs. Working Memory

Short term= lasts for only secondsMaximum information in STM = 7 items

Working = lasts for few hoursLeads to information being in LTM

Short term= lasts for only secondsMaximum information in STM = 7 items

Working = lasts for few hoursLeads to information being in LTM

Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes

LTM = stored foreverLearning has to follow certain lanes for

it to be permanentFive lanes =

SemanticEpisodicProceduralAutomaticEmotional

LTM = stored foreverLearning has to follow certain lanes for

it to be permanentFive lanes =

SemanticEpisodicProceduralAutomaticEmotional

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 55 copyright 1999

Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes

Semantic LaneStored in the hippocampus (file

cabinet/organizer)Information learned from wordsTakes several repetitions for learning to occurCan hold unlimited amount of information

Semantic LaneStored in the hippocampus (file

cabinet/organizer)Information learned from wordsTakes several repetitions for learning to occurCan hold unlimited amount of information

Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes

Episodic LaneStored in the hippocampus (file

cabinet/organizer)Deals with locationWhere you learn the information is

important to making it a memory and reaching LTM

Recalling where you sat, where it was written on the board or in the book, what place you were at

Episodic LaneStored in the hippocampus (file

cabinet/organizer)Deals with locationWhere you learn the information is

important to making it a memory and reaching LTM

Recalling where you sat, where it was written on the board or in the book, what place you were at

Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes

Procedural Lane“muscle memory”Cerebellum used for these memories

(back of head, movement and balance)Memory is stored when it becomes routineBrushing teeth, riding a bike, tying shoesAllows us to do two things at once because

we use different areas of the brainGoofy body movements/dances to help

recall information

Procedural Lane“muscle memory”Cerebellum used for these memories

(back of head, movement and balance)Memory is stored when it becomes routineBrushing teeth, riding a bike, tying shoesAllows us to do two things at once because

we use different areas of the brainGoofy body movements/dances to help

recall information

Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes

Automatic LaneA stimulus automatically triggers the recall

of the memoryLocated in the cerebellum

(back of head, movement and balance)ABC’s, math facts, sight words, songs,

oppositesNo comprehension - just information (trivia)Can trigger other lanes to open and recall

learning

Automatic LaneA stimulus automatically triggers the recall

of the memoryLocated in the cerebellum

(back of head, movement and balance)ABC’s, math facts, sight words, songs,

oppositesNo comprehension - just information (trivia)Can trigger other lanes to open and recall

learning

Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes

Emotional LaneOpened through the amygdalaMost powerful kind of memoryStress hormones can make it impossible to

recall memories/learningAnother lane can trigger emotional memory

which can than stop the memory process

Emotional LaneOpened through the amygdalaMost powerful kind of memoryStress hormones can make it impossible to

recall memories/learningAnother lane can trigger emotional memory

which can than stop the memory process

ImportantImportant

When memories are stored in more than one memory lane, they become more powerful.

Learning = Memory The more memory lanes we use to store

information, the more powerful the learning becomes.

Every day our brain prunes away neuronal connections that are not being used.

Keep those brain cells active!!!!!!!!!!

When memories are stored in more than one memory lane, they become more powerful.

Learning = Memory The more memory lanes we use to store

information, the more powerful the learning becomes.

Every day our brain prunes away neuronal connections that are not being used.

Keep those brain cells active!!!!!!!!!!