The Prefrontal Cortex Is where those Is where those ...files.ascd.org/pdfs/onlinelearning/webinars/webinar-handouts-4-13-2011.pdfApr 13, 2011 · Microsoft PowerPoint - Willis Webinar

Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions:

The Real Higher Order Processing

Dr. Judy WillisApril 13, 2011

The Prefrontal Cortex The Prefrontal Cortex Is where those Is where those skillsetskillsetcan develop, with can develop, with your helpyour help

Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011

© 2011 ASCD

ReactiveReactiveInvoluntary Brain Involuntary Brain

for Survivalfor Survival

PrefrontalPrefrontalCortexCortex

The CEO in residence is the Executive Function System

PREFRONTAL CORTEX

Emotional management

The Prefrontal CortexMultiple Functions

Long-term memory

Executive function


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Poll Question: Select a list you think most applies to dog characteristics and which tocat characteristics

List List List AList A BBList AList A

Planning aheadDelay immediate gratificationRisk assessmentJudgmentToleranceEmpathyAdaptable

AgilityGroomingMood shifts

Prefrontal Cortex Percent of Brain Volume

Dog 10%Dog 10%

Cat 3%Cat 3%

Human Human 20%20%

Executive Functions Directed by PFC

Cat 3%Cat 3%

Dog 10%Dog 10%Plan aheadDelay immediate gratificationRisk assessmentJudgmentToleranceEmpathyAdaptableComprehend “new tricks”

AgilityGroomingMood shifts


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Executive FunctionsExecutive FunctionsExecutive FunctionsExecutive Functionsare are the the SkillsetsSkillsets for for 2121stst Century SuccessCentury Success

Listener PollListener Poll

Which Which one or two one or two skillsets do skillsets do you thinkyou think will be will be most critical most critical for 21for 21stst Century Success? Century Success?

AnalyzeAnalyze (Plan ahead)(Plan ahead)PrioritizePrioritizeConsidered decision making Considered decision making Delay of immediate gratification Delay of immediate gratification Goal planning Goal planning

Executive FunctionsExecutive Functions are theare theSkillsetsSkillsets for 21for 21stst Century SuccessCentury Success

REMEMBERGoal planning Goal planning Risk assessment Risk assessment Judgment Judgment Tolerance Tolerance Empathy Empathy Adaptability Adaptability OrganizeOrganizeComprehend “new tricks”Comprehend “new tricks”

The Dog


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PrefrontalCortex

Pruning and myelination Prefrontal

CortexPrefrontal

Cortexthinning from age 5-25Co te

Pruning and myelination from age 5-25

Cortex


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Abstraction, reasoning, deduction, critical analysis,

Neuroimaging correlates executive function use with PFC activity

Abstraction, reasoning, deduction, critical analysis, considered decision making, goal planning, prioritizing, judgment, tolerance, empathy, & consideration of alternative perspectives

Meta-analysis of 20 neuroimaging studies of cognition. (Duncan, 2001).

Rote memorization and working memory do not have the capacity to keep pace with the exponential information growth

Long-term & conceptual memory storage are limitless

Strengthen PFC Strengthen PFC networks during the school yearsnetworks during the school yearswhen they are undergoing their when they are undergoing their

OpportunityOpportunity

most rapid, extensive changesmost rapid, extensive changes

Incorporating Use of Incorporating Use of Executive Functions in Executive Functions in LearningLearning


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NeuroplasticityNeuroplasticity

Promote students’ brains’ Promote students’ brains’ neuroplasticity to strengthen neuroplasticity to strengthen developing executive function developing executive function neural networksneural networks

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s Neuroplasticity is the brain’s response to activity through a response to activity through a neural circuitneural circuit

Children need to use PFC Children need to use PFC Executive Functions during their Executive Functions during their

PRACTICE MAKE PERMANENT PRACTICE MAKE PERMANENT

Executive Functions during their Executive Functions during their most active development becausemost active development because

Activate developing

Executive Function Exercise:

Prefrontal Prefrontal cortexcortex

A ith liA ith li networks during their growth spurt

SynapseSynapseNeuronNeuron

Axon with myelinAxon with myelin

DendriteDendrite


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Myelin wrapped around axon

PFCPFCDevelopmentDevelopment

Myelin thickening increases with activation

Ming-Chang Chiang, M. et al.2009. Genetics of Brain Fiber Architecture and Intellectual Performance. Journal of Neuroscience, 29 (7): 2212

Faster PFC processing correlates with intellectual performance

Thicker myelin = faster processing

With few connections traffic flow is inefficient & slow

More efficient flow of brain traffic when with more connections


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• Opportunities to build flexible perspectives: Encourage prediction and revise of opinions

Executive Functions Planned into Units

• Communicate & collaborate: Group projects

• Build skillset of interpreting and applying new future information: Incorporate choice and open-ended tasks

Discuss fact versus opinion:Discuss fact versus opinion:–– TV commercials, internet sitesTV commercials, internet sites

Executive Function Building Activities

Evaluate opinions on topics of interest or Evaluate opinions on topics of interest or current events: current events: twitterfall.comtwitterfall.com (create class (create class list of what makes a good source to followlist of what makes a good source to follow))

Multiple ways to solve problems in mathMultiple ways to solve problems in math

learning by using learning by using it in a different context it in a different context –– personally personally meaningful & authenticmeaningful & authentic


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Analysis & Decision-makingReasoningEstimation and Prediction

Transfer Activities to Build Executive Functions

Planning how best to teach or communicatethe information

PrioritizingGoal planning and monitoringSelf-assessment & revision

Discussion and debate: Discussion and debate: Support opinions with reasons Support opinions with reasons Take opposite viewpointTake opposite viewpoint

B h f i d h l b B h f i d h l b

Executive Function Building Activities

Brochures from airports and hotels about Brochures from airports and hotels about “THE BEST….. In the City”“THE BEST….. In the City”

Develop solutions to Develop solutions to a school or a school or community community problem. Present to a real problem. Present to a real ““audienceaudience”. Use technology (survey ”. Use technology (survey monkey, monkey, twitterpolltwitterpoll))

Extended neural networks represent pthe construction of information connected as concepts


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What happens when students can use executive functions and conceptual neural networks to transfer knowledge and create something new?


© 2011 ASCD

Summary

Executive function correlates with PFC Activity

PFC network activation increases the neural t k b l ti it

√√

networks by neuroplasticity

The PFC undergoes these changes most profoundly during the school years which means,

√

WEBSITE WEBSITE

For Brain Owner’s Manuals For Brain Owner’s Manuals and more linksand more linksand more linksand more links

Judy Willis Judy Willis www.RADTeach.comwww.RADTeach.com


© 2011 ASCD

NEXT ASK Dr. Judy: ASCD Webinar

How can I help my students remember what I teach?

August 10, 20113:00 p.m. ET


© 2011 ASCD

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The Prefrontal Cortex Is where those Is where those ...files.ascd.org/pdfs/onlinelearning/webinars/webinar-handouts-4-13-2011.pdfApr 13, 2011 · Microsoft PowerPoint - Willis Webinar