Describe brain activity during learning

How do the parts of the brain communicate?

The brain is a communication center consisting of billions of neurons, or nerve cells. Networks
of neurons pass messages back and forth among different structures within the brain, the spinal
cord, and nerves in the rest of the body (the peripheral nervous system). These nerve networks
coordinate and regulate everything we feel, think, and do. The ways in which brain cells
communicate are:

Neuron to Neuron - Nerve cells in the brain sends and receives messages in the form of

electrical and chemical signals from one neuron to another

Neurotransmitters - The Brain's Chemical Messengers. The messages are carried

between neurons by chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Receptors - The Brain's Chemical Receivers. The neurotransmitter attaches to a receptor
site on the receiving neuron. A neurotransmitter and its receptor operate like a key and
lock mechanism that ensures that each receptor will forward the appropriate message,

only after interacting with the right kind of neurotransmitter.

Transporters - The Brain's Chemical Recyclers. Located on the neuron that releases the
neurotransmitter, transporters recycle these neurotransmitters (that is, bring them back
into the neuron that released them), thereby shutting off the signal between neurons.

Figure 1: Brain cell communication (Drugabuse.gov, 2015)

How does learning happen?
Through those various ways in which brain nerve cells communicate mentioned above, sensory
information is transmitted via synapses along the neural pathway and stored temporarily in shortterm memory.
Short term memory - a volatile region of the brain that acts like a receiving center for the flood
of sensory information we encounter in our daily lives.
Once processed in short-term memory, our brains neural pathways carry these where they are
stored in our long-term memory
Long term memory - the vast warehouse of everything we have ever experienced in our
lives. This process occurs in an instant.

Figure 2: Synapse Across Two Neurons (Trainingindustry.com, 2015)

Figure 3: Neurotransmiter release across synapses (National Institute on Aging, 2015)

In fact, as information races across billions of neurons axons, which transmit signals to the next
neuron via synapse, some degradation is common. Thats why many of our memories are
incomplete or include false portions that we make up to fill holes in the real memory.
Neuroscientists have long believed that learning and memory formation are made by the
strengthening and weakening of connections among brain cells. This theory is called
neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity is defined as the selective organizing of connections between neurons in our

brains in order to learn a certain activity or help improve memory. This theory is still being
revised.

What does this neuroscience research suggest about learning?

We need to ensure that learning engages all the senses and taps the emotional side of the brain,
through methods like humor, storytelling, group activities and games. Emphasis on the rational
and logical alone does not produce powerful memories.

The table below summarizes the three recent research findings and their implications for training.
Table 1: Learning Implications of Brain Science
Recent Brain Research Finding
Implications for Learning
Frequency and recency of neuron synapses Increase frequency through practice

and

increase memory
maintain fluency through use
Emotions strengthen memory
Appeal to and engage emotions while learning
Learning causes changes to the physical Engaging in learning increases our ability to
structure of the brain
learn throughout our lives
Memories are stored in multiple parts of the Engage all senses when learning
brain
Our brains are programmed to focus on new Learning should tap into the brains natural
and unusual inputs

curiosity and intrinsic motivation

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