Learning and the brain

(Santa Barbara, Calif.) –– The brain is “plastic,” according to recent findings in neuroscience, and that concept can help teachers and educators improve learning. Brain plasticity is the focus of a gathering of nearly 800 educators, from across the U.S. and other countries, to be held in Massachusetts at the end of this month.

The Learning & the Brain conference was co-founded by Kenneth S. Kosik, co-director of the Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Harriman Professor of Neuroscience Research, along with Anne Rosenfeld and Kelly Williams. The 20th edition of the conference of will be held in Cambridge, Mass., on April 26-29, and registration is still open. See: < http://www.learningandthebrain.com/ >. Continuing education credits are available to participants. (The conference fee is waived for credentialed members of the press.)

This conference theme is “neuroplasticity,” or how the brain changes with learning, memory, and experience. The meeting will focus on the discovery that the brain is not “hardwired” from birth, but holds a remarkable lifelong power to change. Positive or negative environments, exercise, nurturance, learning, and other experiences continue to change the brain throughout life.

These revolutionary findings point to new possibilities for “rewiring” the brain to help overcome learning disorders and to enhance memory, learning, IQ, and achievement in all learners. “Neuroscience has the potential to transform education,” said Anne Rosenfeld, conference president.

Conference participants will learn about:

• Brain-based teaching for children, adolescents and adults
• How stress and early adversity shape brains and later learning
• New insights into reading and math disorders and interventions
• Influences that change the brain and affect learning
• Cutting-edge environments, technology and insights into adult learning
• Techniques for treating mood, ADHD, stress, and learning problems
• How the brain can be retrained to improve attention and memory
• The role of brain plasticity in resilience, empathy, and teaching