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Copyright ©2009 JoAnn Deak, Ph.D.
For extremely talentedgcLiers
Mozart
Quacking IT’S A DUCK!
• 11% more neurons in language and auditory areas• Hippocampus is larger [emotion and memory]
• Corpus callosum is larger [connecting hemispheres]• Language centers are larger
• Circuitry for observing others [RPTJ] is larger• Amygdala is smaller: center of aggression• Insula is larger: processes gut feelings• ACC is larger: the ‘worry-wart’ center
• Prefrontal cortex is larger and develops earlier in teen girls than teen boys
Preview of the female brain:
Source: The Female Brain, Louann Brizendine, M.D.
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“Every interaction a child has
during the course of a day
influences the adult
that child will become.”
JoAnn Deak, Ph.D.
Crucible Events:
Death of a loved one Divorce of parents Molestation
Crucible Moments:
An off-hand comment from a teacher A roll of the eyes by the ‘queen bee’
Source: Girls Will be Girls, J. Deak
“Education is a key component of a child’s development.
The relationships that teachers have with their students and the experiences they provide for them directly shape the neural circuitry of the next generation.
Teachers in this way can be seen as neurosculptors of our future.”
Daniel J. Siegal: The Fourth ‘R’ of Education
The same can be said for parents…
EVERY PERSON IS BORN WITH APPROX. 100 BILLION NEURONS
GRADUALLY, THE AVERAGE BRAIN FORMS
OVER 100 TRILLION CONNECTIONS
Neurons grow in length and diameter with age [readiness].
They sprout connections when used [use it or lose it].
Gradually many neurons combine to make neuronal networks[e.g. sensory information slowly combines to make sense, a thought…].
These networks become more and more connected and complexcrossing the corpus callosum for complicated thinking.
Ultimately they stream to the prefrontal cortex, and are heldand juggled and organized and prioritized into very high levels of judgment. You have now reached the age of 40 ish.
HOWEVER… in the beginning:Those ‘given’ # of neurons are distributed differently in EVERY individual brain
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What influences the distribution pattern?
the gene pool sex
???????? other stuff
This is the first step in the ‘gross’ analysis of understanding a NU
IN GENERAL, OR SIMPLY PUT: areas of the brain that have more neurons and/or conduct better… and/or conduct faster
lead to easier aptitude or talent [NATURE]
ENTER… THE RUBBER BANDS!
Brain Basics 101
No brain has the same size rubber bands in all sectors.You don’t get to choose your rubber bands…
The bigger the rubber band the easier…aptitude…
When you ask a ‘neurologic unit’ to use a big rubberband, the emotional part of the brain tends to feela positive emotion…The obverse is true…
Rubber bands or neurons grow, with use, until you die, but earlier is better…. Plasticity.
The key to teaching parenting developing a facile brain:
Using the big rubber bands for learning, passion…
Using the small rubber bands enough to insure alifetime of facile use…
Knowing which to do when!Strengths and sh adows …
TIPs & RIPsEmploying some tool to identifylarge and small rubber bandsfor all constituents is needed.
Mike?gcLi-er?
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Brainology:Transforming Students’ Motivation to Learn Carol S. Dweck
available on nais.org, resources
Apply the rubber bands to the triumvirate brain:
CORTEX
AMYGDALA[Limbic system]
PREFRONTAL CORTEX
For healthy, effective functioning: All three sectors need to be
equally ‘muscular’
Mitigating circumstances:
Age
Differing rubber bands
Damage or neuro/psych conditions
Although the distribution pattern [NATURE] CANNOT be altered…[two minor exceptions]
This takes place in TWO major ways:
I. Natural growth and development &
II. Learning
THE BRAIN CAN CHANGE OVER TIME [NURTURE]
NATURAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Let’s look at:
[Which is MOSTLY influenced by chronology]
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NEURONS GROW WITH AGE
Massive natural growth in the first two decades of life.
Neurons start out short, skinny and naked. Gradually,they grow in length and diameter with age [ROBUST].
The magic glial cells cover the robust neuron with myelin [READINESS].
Don’t mess with the BIG THREE during growth periods!
Or at any other time of life…
A GOOD DEAL OF NATURAL BRAIN GROWTH OCCURS DURING SLEEP
IS ENHANCED BY NUTRITION
And >
water
And some are adolescents…
SLEEP: growingneurons & dendrites& making myelin
PROTEINCALCIUMFATOMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDSVITAMINS/ANTIOXIDANTS
MINIMIZE CAFFEINE & SODIUM
water
1
2 nutrition
3
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ORAC: [oxygen radical absorbency capability]
1. PRUNES2. RAISINS3. BLUEBERRIES4. BLACKBERRIES5. GARLIC6. KALE7. CRANBERRIES8. STRAWBERRIES9. SPINACH, RAW10. RASPBERRY11. BRUSSELS SPROUTS12. PLUM13. ALFALFA SPROUTS
14. SPINACH, STEAMED15. BROCCOLI16. BEETS17. AVOCADO18. ORANGE19. RED GRAPES20. RED PEPPERS21. CHERRIES22. KIWI23. BEANS, BAKED24. PINK GRAPEFRUIT25. WHITE GRAPES26. ONION
Source: Your Miracle Brain by Jean Carper
Scientific American Mind Sept/Oct. 2008
< CHILD
ADOLESCENT >
ADULT >
TIPs & RIPsStart middle and upper schoolas late as possible.
Ryan?
gcLi-er?
Let’s revisit age periods and how partschange in size and influence over time.
Child Adol. Adult
cc cc cc
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Child Adol. Adult
cc
Child Adol. Adult
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Child Adol. Adult
cc
Child Adol. Adult
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Stretching the PF [or negotiating the gray]:A key area of readiness or plasticity for the adolescent brain.
Dana’s story… Stretching the adolescent PF: THE ULTIMATE TASK OF Neurosculptors of leaders with integrity
Learning is somewhat of a magical occurrence: It includes 5 basic processes [at least].
Beyond Natural Growth: THE SECOND PART OF THE CHANGING BRAIN EQUATION:
LEARNING [not just for schools]
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When neurons are robust, they conduct messages/thoughts
In the CORTEX:
1.Dendritic growth 2.Lowered capacitanceLeads to neural Darwinism [Edelman] use it or lose it
Dendritic growth & lowered capacitance
can lead to a critical component of learning---
AUTOMATICITY [OR IMPRINTING]Think of Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours concept
Automaticity… not the same as rote learning…
handwriting[motoric component]
memorizing names of presidents
SKILLS TO MOVE TO AUTOMATICITY OR ROTE LEARNING: created by teachers.
Math facts [addition, subtraction, multiplication, division]
Recognition of letters
Letter sounds
Basic sight words [ex. high frequency list]
Typing & finger placement on keyboard
Critical formulas needed for basic math/science problem solving
Recognition of numerals & signs
Formation of letters in print and, later, in cursive
NOTE: If not achieved… remediation based on net cost/net gain…
ENOUGH TOO MUCH
AUTOMATICITY/ROTE LEARNING
Reduces fatigue frustration
failureIncreases speed
efficiencyeffectiveness
Facilitates ‘voltage’ transferOther?
Reduces creativityadaptabilitytolerance for ambiguity
Increases need for structure and control
Facilitates passive learning and behavior
Other?
REMEMBER: A Whole New Mind, Five Minds for the Future, Outliers, Youtube video: Did You Know 2009
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Ponder:
What could be a problem with frequent talking about a problem?
Or being transparent too frequently?
Malcolm Gladwell Outliers_____
A school’s choices of time allocation have HUGE implications for:
Stretching rubber bands
e.g. Leadership positions: who gets chosen & how
TIPs & RIPsEmbed the concept of 10,000 hoursin PFC stretching expectations.
Trina?
gcLi-er?
On to the THIRD component of learning: combining thought with emotion
EMOTIONAL ASSOCIATIONS with learning
have a significant short & long terminfluence on the growing/layering adult.
ASSOCIATIONAL MEMORY & LEARNING
WHAT FIRES TOGETHER… WIRES TOGETHER
Notice the size of the neurons from theamygdala to the cortex…
And the metaphor is…
The power of the lower brain
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Browning butter nausea
Therefore, the emotional part of the brain plays a powerful role in the learning process:
THEZONE
EXTREMEAROUSAL [override]
MINDBLINDNESS
Trauma
Stretch
Comfort
The productivezone of disequilibrium
What does this mean?
If the red line isn’t in the zone,learning will not progress as well…
Effective teachers have red line lowering and red line raising strategies/techniquesin their repertoire and USE them!
SKY-HIGH emotions are burned into the system [like a CD]
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THE AMYGDALA
NEGATIVE emotions have a more powerful and longer impact than POSITIVE emotions…
WHY?THE STORY OF THE 3 BEARS
…NO, LET’S MAKE THAT THE 3…
-10+10= NEUTRAL FEELINGS…
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What does this mean for neurosculptors?
Extraordinary techniques are needed todeal with high negative emotionalmemory…
First: do no harm!
Grab the amygdala!
Fourth component of learning:
Miss-steps
Color discrimination for shades of white… TIP TIME
[Theory Into Practice]
FIFTH COMPONENT OF LEARNING:
KEY ISSUES: 1. ENOUGH SLEEP
[At least 9hours for adol.]
2. EFFECT OF HORMONES [Later sleep patterns]
3. QUANTITY & TIMING [e.g. homework, chat rooms…]
CONSOLIDATIONDURING SLEEP
REVIEW Why the case can be made that every interaction a child has helps form the adult s/he will become:
1. Dendritic growth [creating pathways]
2. Lowered capacitance [enhancing conduction] 3. Cortical and limbic/amygdala associations [providing context]4. Layered over time like a strudel [as memory and imbedded thought processes]
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WITH THE AID OF:SLEEP
NUTRITION
EXERCISE
WATER
HEALTHY QUANTITY
What impact does thisresearch/information have:
On your work?On you?On what you will do tomorrow?
Take a moment to write and reflect…