• What is learning? How would you define it?

• Are there different types of learning?

• How do you learn new facts? New skills?

• Is all knowledge due to a conscious processes, or is some knowledge acquired by unconscious processes?

Brainstorm…

Neurological Function Theories

• Plasticity-

- The changing of neurons, the organization of their networks, and their function via new experiences.

• Compartmentalization-

- Sections of brain are specialized to perform specific tasks- includes implicit & explicit learning.

Explicit vs. implicit learning chart

http://psiexp.ss.uci.edu/research/teachingP140C/Lectures2009/2009_memory_partI.ppt

Medial Temporal Lobe Neocortex Striatum Amygdala

Diencephalon Cerebellum- Sk.

Musc.

H.M. and Implicit Learning• H.M. is a famous patient

who had part of his brain removed and was no longer able to form new memories.

• When performing tasks, such as mirror tracing, he was able to improve over time.

• This result shows that he was capable of some types of implicit learning or “motor memory”

Implicit v. Explicit Learning

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=frcogimp&part=ch12&rendertype=figure&id=ch12.f7

Bean Bag Toss Experiment

For each trial, record the following:Student: _______________# beanbags in bucket w/out goggles: ___# beanbags in bucket w/ goggles: ___# beanbags in bucket after wearing

goggles: ___Notes:

____________________________________________________________________

Questions:1. Explain which part of each trial demonstrated explicit

and implicit learning – use evidence for your reasoning.

2. Which portions of the brain are believed to be responsible for these two types of learning?

3. Can explicit learning lead to implicit knowledge? Provide two justifications for your conclusion.

4. In your opinion, does this experiment

support the brain plasticity and compartmentalization theories? Why or why not?

Questions:1. Explain which part of each trial demonstrated explicit and implicit learning

– use evidence for your reasoning. Implicit: passive process (aiming for the bucket in the general location where you expected it to be aiming for it with goggles on)

Explicit: Active process (without goggles on after wearing them, trying to correct your aim – actively over compensating for your throw).

2. Which portions of the brain are believed to be responsible for these two types of learning?

Skill memory (shooting for the bucket) – Cerebellum

Short term memory: Prefrontal cortex: access location of bucket from first trial.

Long term: hippocampus (old experiences)

3. Can explicit learning lead to implicit knowledge? Provide two justifications for your conclusion.

Any examples? Linking new knowledge to prior understanding and experiences.

4. In your opinion, does this experiment

support the brain plasticity and compartmentalization theories? Why or why not?