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Copyright ©2009 JoAnn Deak, Ph.D.

For extremely talentedgcLiers

Mozart

Quacking IT’S A DUCK!

• 11% more neurons in language and auditory areas• Hippocampus is larger [emotion and memory]

• Corpus callosum is larger [connecting hemispheres]• Language centers are larger

• Circuitry for observing others [RPTJ] is larger• Amygdala is smaller: center of aggression• Insula is larger: processes gut feelings• ACC is larger: the ‘worry-wart’ center

• Prefrontal cortex is larger and develops earlier in teen girls than teen boys

Preview of the female brain:

Source: The Female Brain, Louann Brizendine, M.D.

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“Every interaction a child has

during the course of a day

influences the adult

that child will become.”

JoAnn Deak, Ph.D.

Crucible Events:

Death of a loved one Divorce of parents Molestation

Crucible Moments:

An off-hand comment from a teacher A roll of the eyes by the ‘queen bee’

Source: Girls Will be Girls, J. Deak

“Education is a key component of a child’s development.

The relationships that teachers have with their students and the experiences they provide for them directly shape the neural circuitry of the next generation.

Teachers in this way can be seen as neurosculptors of our future.”

Daniel J. Siegal: The Fourth ‘R’ of Education

The same can be said for parents…

EVERY PERSON IS BORN WITH APPROX. 100 BILLION NEURONS

GRADUALLY, THE AVERAGE BRAIN FORMS

OVER 100 TRILLION CONNECTIONS

Neurons grow in length and diameter with age [readiness].

They sprout connections when used [use it or lose it].

Gradually many neurons combine to make neuronal networks[e.g. sensory information slowly combines to make sense, a thought…].

These networks become more and more connected and complexcrossing the corpus callosum for complicated thinking.

Ultimately they stream to the prefrontal cortex, and are heldand juggled and organized and prioritized into very high levels of judgment. You have now reached the age of 40 ish.

HOWEVER… in the beginning:Those ‘given’ # of neurons are distributed differently in EVERY individual brain

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What influences the distribution pattern?

the gene pool sex

???????? other stuff

This is the first step in the ‘gross’ analysis of understanding a NU

IN GENERAL, OR SIMPLY PUT: areas of the brain that have more neurons and/or conduct better… and/or conduct faster

lead to easier aptitude or talent [NATURE]

ENTER… THE RUBBER BANDS!

Brain Basics 101

No brain has the same size rubber bands in all sectors.You don’t get to choose your rubber bands…

The bigger the rubber band the easier…aptitude…

When you ask a ‘neurologic unit’ to use a big rubberband, the emotional part of the brain tends to feela positive emotion…The obverse is true…

Rubber bands or neurons grow, with use, until you die, but earlier is better…. Plasticity.

The key to teaching parenting developing a facile brain:

Using the big rubber bands for learning, passion…

Using the small rubber bands enough to insure alifetime of facile use…

Knowing which to do when!Strengths and sh adows …

TIPs & RIPsEmploying some tool to identifylarge and small rubber bandsfor all constituents is needed.

Mike?gcLi-er?

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Brainology:Transforming Students’ Motivation to Learn Carol S. Dweck

available on nais.org, resources

Apply the rubber bands to the triumvirate brain:

CORTEX

AMYGDALA[Limbic system]

PREFRONTAL CORTEX

For healthy, effective functioning: All three sectors need to be

equally ‘muscular’

Mitigating circumstances:

Age

Differing rubber bands

Damage or neuro/psych conditions

Although the distribution pattern [NATURE] CANNOT be altered…[two minor exceptions]

This takes place in TWO major ways:

I. Natural growth and development &

II. Learning

THE BRAIN CAN CHANGE OVER TIME [NURTURE]

NATURAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Let’s look at:

[Which is MOSTLY influenced by chronology]

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NEURONS GROW WITH AGE

Massive natural growth in the first two decades of life.

Neurons start out short, skinny and naked. Gradually,they grow in length and diameter with age [ROBUST].

The magic glial cells cover the robust neuron with myelin [READINESS].

Don’t mess with the BIG THREE during growth periods!

Or at any other time of life…

A GOOD DEAL OF NATURAL BRAIN GROWTH OCCURS DURING SLEEP

IS ENHANCED BY NUTRITION

And >

water

And some are adolescents…

SLEEP: growingneurons & dendrites& making myelin

PROTEINCALCIUMFATOMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDSVITAMINS/ANTIOXIDANTS

MINIMIZE CAFFEINE & SODIUM

water

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2 nutrition

3

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ORAC: [oxygen radical absorbency capability]

1. PRUNES2. RAISINS3. BLUEBERRIES4. BLACKBERRIES5. GARLIC6. KALE7. CRANBERRIES8. STRAWBERRIES9. SPINACH, RAW10. RASPBERRY11. BRUSSELS SPROUTS12. PLUM13. ALFALFA SPROUTS

14. SPINACH, STEAMED15. BROCCOLI16. BEETS17. AVOCADO18. ORANGE19. RED GRAPES20. RED PEPPERS21. CHERRIES22. KIWI23. BEANS, BAKED24. PINK GRAPEFRUIT25. WHITE GRAPES26. ONION

Source: Your Miracle Brain by Jean Carper

Scientific American Mind Sept/Oct. 2008

< CHILD

ADOLESCENT >

ADULT >

TIPs & RIPsStart middle and upper schoolas late as possible.

Ryan?

gcLi-er?

Let’s revisit age periods and how partschange in size and influence over time.

Child Adol. Adult

cc cc cc

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Child Adol. Adult

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Child Adol. Adult

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Child Adol. Adult

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Child Adol. Adult

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Stretching the PF [or negotiating the gray]:A key area of readiness or plasticity for the adolescent brain.

Dana’s story… Stretching the adolescent PF: THE ULTIMATE TASK OF Neurosculptors of leaders with integrity

Learning is somewhat of a magical occurrence: It includes 5 basic processes [at least].

Beyond Natural Growth: THE SECOND PART OF THE CHANGING BRAIN EQUATION:

LEARNING [not just for schools]

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When neurons are robust, they conduct messages/thoughts

In the CORTEX:

1.Dendritic growth 2.Lowered capacitanceLeads to neural Darwinism [Edelman] use it or lose it

Dendritic growth & lowered capacitance

can lead to a critical component of learning---

AUTOMATICITY [OR IMPRINTING]Think of Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours concept

Automaticity… not the same as rote learning…

handwriting[motoric component]

memorizing names of presidents

SKILLS TO MOVE TO AUTOMATICITY OR ROTE LEARNING: created by teachers.

Math facts [addition, subtraction, multiplication, division]

Recognition of letters

Letter sounds

Basic sight words [ex. high frequency list]

Typing & finger placement on keyboard

Critical formulas needed for basic math/science problem solving

Recognition of numerals & signs

Formation of letters in print and, later, in cursive

NOTE: If not achieved… remediation based on net cost/net gain…

ENOUGH TOO MUCH

AUTOMATICITY/ROTE LEARNING

Reduces fatigue frustration

failureIncreases speed

efficiencyeffectiveness

Facilitates ‘voltage’ transferOther?

Reduces creativityadaptabilitytolerance for ambiguity

Increases need for structure and control

Facilitates passive learning and behavior

Other?

REMEMBER: A Whole New Mind, Five Minds for the Future, Outliers, Youtube video: Did You Know 2009

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Ponder:

What could be a problem with frequent talking about a problem?

Or being transparent too frequently?

Malcolm Gladwell Outliers_____

A school’s choices of time allocation have HUGE implications for:

Stretching rubber bands

e.g. Leadership positions: who gets chosen & how

TIPs & RIPsEmbed the concept of 10,000 hoursin PFC stretching expectations.

Trina?

gcLi-er?

On to the THIRD component of learning: combining thought with emotion

EMOTIONAL ASSOCIATIONS with learning

have a significant short & long terminfluence on the growing/layering adult.

ASSOCIATIONAL MEMORY & LEARNING

WHAT FIRES TOGETHER… WIRES TOGETHER

Notice the size of the neurons from theamygdala to the cortex…

And the metaphor is…

The power of the lower brain

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Browning butter nausea

Therefore, the emotional part of the brain plays a powerful role in the learning process:

THEZONE

EXTREMEAROUSAL [override]

MINDBLINDNESS

Trauma

Stretch

Comfort

The productivezone of disequilibrium

What does this mean?

If the red line isn’t in the zone,learning will not progress as well…

Effective teachers have red line lowering and red line raising strategies/techniquesin their repertoire and USE them!

SKY-HIGH emotions are burned into the system [like a CD]

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THE AMYGDALA

NEGATIVE emotions have a more powerful and longer impact than POSITIVE emotions…

WHY?THE STORY OF THE 3 BEARS

…NO, LET’S MAKE THAT THE 3…

-10+10= NEUTRAL FEELINGS…

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What does this mean for neurosculptors?

Extraordinary techniques are needed todeal with high negative emotionalmemory…

First: do no harm!

Grab the amygdala!

Fourth component of learning:

Miss-steps

Color discrimination for shades of white… TIP TIME

[Theory Into Practice]

FIFTH COMPONENT OF LEARNING:

KEY ISSUES: 1. ENOUGH SLEEP

[At least 9hours for adol.]

2. EFFECT OF HORMONES [Later sleep patterns]

3. QUANTITY & TIMING [e.g. homework, chat rooms…]

CONSOLIDATIONDURING SLEEP

REVIEW Why the case can be made that every interaction a child has helps form the adult s/he will become:

1. Dendritic growth [creating pathways]

2. Lowered capacitance [enhancing conduction] 3. Cortical and limbic/amygdala associations [providing context]4. Layered over time like a strudel [as memory and imbedded thought processes]

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WITH THE AID OF:SLEEP

NUTRITION

EXERCISE

WATER

HEALTHY QUANTITY

What impact does thisresearch/information have:

On your work?On you?On what you will do tomorrow?

Take a moment to write and reflect…