23. Notes-Plenary 3

 [Blog of the Annual-cum-International Conference 2015]

Notes from the Plenary Session

Dr. KR.Sivadasan

Former Dean, Faculty of Education

University of Kerala

Cognitive neuroscience –  myth or reality

*Neuroscience – study of the functioning of neurons.

-It’s the learning of the brain.

-Are the functions of the brain the same in all living beings?

*Brain and its size

-Is the size of the brain the same in all living beings?

-Relationship between SES and brain – study regarding

-Can we change the size of the brain?

*Cognitive neuroscience

-The term  indicates that both concepts of cognition and neuroscience are related. In the absence of either of them, man cannot actively participate  in activities where cognitive skills like logical  thinking, analytical thinking, creative thinking, reasoning etc., are integrated with neurons in the brain. This process of integrative system helps mould the abstract ideas into motor activities.

-However, no consensus for a definition

* For  reflection :

-Do the thinking process and the integrative system presented  take place in all animals?

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*Development of Neuroscience

-Difficult to  study the child’s brain.

-Restrictions by governments. For instance, Australia.

-Brain imaging techniques help to get data.

 Brain Plasticity/Neuroplasticity

-The brain can be moulded.

-Imagine it as a lump of porridge. We can change the shape of porridge by a spoon falling in it.

-Likewise, the neural networks within the brain  recognize in response to sensory stimulation –  external and internal.

-The brain has the capacity of rewiring itself via synaptogenesis.

-Brain plasticity – a synonym for neurogenesis.

Education and Brain plasticity 

-In Education, functional plasticity is important.

-Functional plasticity is the ability to change behaviour following internal and external experiences

Link between Education & Neuroscience

-Beuchamp and Beuchamp feel the importance of creating a link between the findings of neuroscience  research and the contexts in which teaching and learning take place.

-But there are issues… try to list them

Findings in Neuroscience   

-Neuroscience produced findings about the brain and its functions.

-Those findings can potentially impact the ways teachers approach their learners.

Research  conducted  in Stanford University

*Methods of imaging improve.

*Neuroscientists and educators can now identify  changes in children’s brains as they learn. (Stanford Report, November 21, 2014).

*Researchers in Stanford are trying to “understand how educational experiences are driving changes in the brain….”!

-They have state-of-the- art neuroimaging facilities.

-They train the next generation of leaders in educational neuroscience!