General
There are still many mysteries about the human brain, but the link below provides 9 quick facts for a better understanding of the brain.
https://www.verywellmind.com/quick-facts-about-the-brain-4153287
The brain tour in the link below will familiarize you with major brain structures and their functions (this is not an in-depth look at the brain).
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-anatomy-of-the-brain-2794895
The smell of a flower – The memory of a walk in the park – The pain of stepping on a nail. These experiences are made possible by the 3 pounds of tissue in our heads…the BRAIN!! Neuroscience for Kids has been created for all students (5 to 105 years young) and teachers who would like to learn about the nervous system.
The Backwards Brain Bicycle – This 7-minute video shows you brain automaticity in action. See what happens when one small change is made to a bicycle and how a young developing child and an adult handle the challenge of riding this new bicycle. Things don’t go so well at the start.
https://www.learntochange.eu/2016/11/10/backward-bicycle/ OR
https://ed.ted.com/featured/bf2mRAfC
If you want additional information on brain automaticity and how it impacts our cognitive skill efficiency, check out the Brain FAQ’s (General) “Riding a Bike and Automaticity” on this topic.
On-line resource for information on how the brain works and how students learn.
The neuroscience research on the importance of sleep has made this a hot topic. Several resources to check out:
Dr. Matthew Walker, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, and Founder/Director of the Center for Human Sleep Science, has a lot to say on this topic. For in-depth research, google Dr. Walker and other researchers on this topic, but in the meantime, you might enjoy Dr. Walker’s 8-minute video below – “How to Improve Your Sleep”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRp5AC9W_F8
AND
You might want to check out this recent article on brain toxins:
“Scientists Now Know How Sleep Cleans Toxins from the Brain”, recent article by Sara Harrison, WIRED, https://www.wired.com/story/scientists-now-know-how-sleep-cleans-toxins-from-the-brain/
Research abstract for this published article: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6465/628
The foods you eat play a role in keeping your brain healthy and can improve specific mental tasks, such as memory and concentration. An evidence-based article by Dr. Kerri-Anne Jennings lists 11 foods that boost your brain and memory.
Schmoozing is good for the brain — Michigan researchers say they’ve found that shooting the bull with friends has measurable benefits for the brain, keeping it sharp in later life.
https://scienceblog.com/250/schmoozing-good-for-the-brain/
OR
Check out this link for several other research findings.
https://www.brainhq.com/brain-resources/everyday-brain-fitness/social-life-brain-fitness/
We all understand the importance and the benefits of physical exercise. So, find the exercise that fits for you – whether you are 5 or 105 or somewhere in between.
The transcript for a podcast with Movement specialist, M.A. Greenstein, PhD, is available below. Dr. Greenstein is asked “What is a good beginning when starting to exercise that will also benefit my brain?” She responds with a question to you, “What movement experiences bring you joy and a certain fulfillment?” If no movement comes to mind, Dr Greenstein’s suggest you pick something that has three traits which impacts the brain health: (1) Movement that provides you immediate feedback; (2) Movement that scaffolds your learning while adapting to your skills (from easy to difficult), and (3) Movement that provides novel (NEW) challenges along the way. For specifics, link to transcript.
Adults
The ACTIVE Study is the first large-scale, randomized trial to test the long-term outcomes of cognitive training effects for the prevention of cognitive decline in daily functions and to prove healthy older adults can make significant cognitive improvements with appropriate cognitive training and practice. For a good overview of this study by the two lead scientist, use this link.
The ACTIVE Study: Study Overview and Major, Findings by Sharon L. Tennestedt, PhD and Frederick W. Unverzagt, PhD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3934012/
OR
Visit the link of Brain HQ who provided the only computerised cognitive training exercise used in the the ACTIVE study. https://www.brainhq.com/world-class-science/published-research/active-study
“What you can do to prevent Alzheimer’s” — Listen to Lisa Genova’s TED Talk – Alzheimer’s doesn’t have to be our brain’s destiny, says neuroscientist and author of “Still Alice”. She shares the latest science investigating the disease – and some promising research on what each of us can do to build an Alzheimer’s-resistant brain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twG4mr6Jov0
AND
Alzheimer’s Australia is an excellent resource for information on understanding dementia and memory loss.
https://yourbrainmatters.org.au/about-dementia/who-gets-dementia
AND
Below is the link referenced in Brain FAQ’s (Adults) “What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s”.
Brain HQ is a wealth and vast resource to learn how neuroscience impacts us and how to use this research in our everyday life.
The Brain Fitness News from Posit Science (Brain HQ) always has some great tidbits each month on brain fitness and cognitive issues as well as the latest research. To sign up to their monthly newsletter – https://brainconnection.brainhq.com/newsletter-sign-up/
AND
Below is the link referenced in FAQ’s (Adult) “What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s”, but once you are there you may find other articles that interest you.
AND
Below is the information and links for research on the effects of cognitive skills training for improving visual and auditory processing when using Brain HQ exercises.
https://www.brainhq.com/world-class-science/published-research/vision-and-hearing?
The Mayo Clinic article referenced in FAQ (The Brain in Recovery), “What is chemo brain?”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chemo-brain/symptoms-causes/syc-20351060
AND
An article by Daniel King, “Online Exercises Recognized as Intervention for Chemo Brain,” 23 Jan 2019, The Mesothelioma Center
https://www.asbestos.com/blog/2019/01/23/brainhq-chemo-brain-mesothelioma/
Social Life and Brain Fitness, Brain HQ outlines some of the research of the positive relationship between social engagement and cognitive performance.
https://www.brainhq.com/brain-resources/everyday-brain-fitness/social-life-brain-fitness/
Stroke – “A Powerful Stroke of Insight”. Listen to Jill Bolte Taylor’s TED Talk, a neuroscientist, talk about her comeback after a massive stroke https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight
Information and citations for studies on the impact of cognitive skills training and driving is below. In general, these studies were conducted in cognitively healthy adults aged 65 and older, and in some cases, aged 50 and older and have utilised some on-line exercises provided by Brain HQ.
https://www.brainhq.com/world-class-science/published-research/driving/
For a quick summary of results to these studies, go to Brain FAQ’s (Adults), “Can brain training have an impact on my driving skills? If so, How?”
Kids/Teens
Dr. Paul Tallal explains how ‘sound development’ in our brain impact the occurrences of learning difficulties in the classroom.
Parent and educator resources web site. Spelfabet supports systematic synthetic phonics learning for beginning and struggling readers. The tools, videos, and resources on the site support this type of reading methodology. Alison’s blog is full of useful information such as reviews of resources and teaching strategies, plain English discussions of theoretical stuff, and the occasional reflection or rant on teaching spelling and reading.
“Some people . . . being grown; forget the horrible task of learning to read. It is perhaps the greatest single effort that the human undertakes, and he must do it as a child . . . “
John Steinbeck (1962 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature)
This web site is a wealth of information for educators and parents. Children of the Code is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2008, whose mission is to ‘make the case’ (economically, politically, socially, neurologically, psychologically, educationally, parentally) for “stewarding the health of our children’s learning”. There are over 100 interviews with field leading scientists and scholars covering all the challenges of learning to reading.
The Reading Brain video (for those in a hurry, listen from :50 to 4:07 minutes for how the reading brain is structured)
White Papers & Other Resources
A few white papers and articles on APD (auditory processing deficit), Dyslexia, and Paying Attention to Reading that you might find of interest: