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Brain Imaging and Education
John Gabrieli Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences &
Martinos Imaging Center at theMcGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT
High-Stakes Statewide Standardized Tests
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment SystemMCAS – Math & ELA
Cognitive Skills
• Crystallized Skills
acquired knowledge (vocabulary & arithmetic)
focus of schools & state testing
• Fluid Skills
speed of processing
working memory
abstract reasoning
Processing Speed
Working Memory• count span (Conway, Bunting, Hambrick, Wilhelm & Engle, 2005)
Your job is to count the BLUE CIRCLES in each display.Ignore red circles and blue triangles.From each of 3 successive displays, remember the number of BLUE CIRCLES
in each display, and report those 3 numbers after the third display.
For example,display 1 = 1 BLUE CIRCLE (keep “1” in mind)display 2 = 2 BLUE CIRCLES (keep “1” and “2” in mind)display 3 = 3 BLUE CIRCLES (keep “1” and “2” and “3” in mindreport, “1, 2, 3”
Working Memory
Working Memory
Working Memory
Working MemoryAnswer?
Working MemoryAnswer?
6 7 4
Fluid Reasoning
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3 4 5 6
Research Study
• 1,367 8th graders
- 47% male, 77% free-lunch eligible
- 41% African- American, 36% Hispanic, 12% White
• 32 middle schools
- traditional, exam, 5 oversubscribed charter (of 8)
• MCAS scores (Math & ELA), fluid cognitive measures
Finn et al., Psychological Science, 2014
Higher Fluid Skills Are Associated With Higher MCAS Scores
Fluid Skill MCAS Math MCAS ELA Processing Speed .46 .38
Working Memory .27 .18
Fluid Reasoning .53 .40
all p < .001
Higher Fluid Skills Are Associated With Higher Gains in MCAS Scores
Fluid Skill MCAS Math MCAS ELA Processing Speed .29 .21
Working Memory .12 .04
Fluid Reasoning .32 .19
4th-8th grade gains
p < .001 except Working Memory and MCAS ELA
MCAS Test Scores
Finn et al., Psychological Science, 2014
Schools Vary In Raising Test Scores • student growth percentile
Finn et al., Psychological Science, 2014
Schools Influence Test Gains, But Not Fluid Cognitive Skills
From Correlation to Causation:Randomized Controlled Trial
(RCT) • lottery for 5 oversubscribed charter schools
• 143 winners, 53 losers (quasi-experimental analysis)
Schools Influence Test Gains, But Not Fluid Cognitive Skills
Finn et al., Psychological Science, 2014
Working Memory, Brain, & MCAS
• diverse sample of 53 8th graders
• N-Back test of working memory capacity
N-Back Performance
Greater Activation in Prefrontal & Parietal Neocortices with Greater
Working Memory Demand
left hemisphere right hemisphere
Greater Working Memory Activation Associated With
Higher MCAS Math Test Scores
left hemisphere right hemisphere
Cortical Thickness Analysis
Cortical Thickness Correlates with Standardized Test Scores
Schools, Test Scores, & Fluid Cognitive Skills
• some schools can raise test scores
• gains in crystallized cognitive skills• such test scores correlate with future gains on SAT, AP, and life outcomes like educational attainment & income (Angrist et al., 2013; Ritchie & Bates, 2013)
• gains achieved without commensurate gains in fluid cognitive skills
(does that matter?)
Decline of Fluid Skills and Preservation of Crystallized Skills across the Life Span
FLUID
CRYSTALLIZED
Park et al., 2002, Psychology and Aging
College Persistence
• 1,589 12th graders in PA and MA– 51% male– 56% free-lunch eligible– 34% African- American, 13% Hispanic,
31% White
College Persistence
Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP charter schools; www.kipp.org
College Persistence
(non-cognitive)cognitive
Collaborators & Support• Schools & Cognitive Skills
Amy FinnChris GabrieliMartin WestMathew KraftBill & Melinda Gates Foundation