Knowing How the Brain Works to Improve Learning

Why do we need to learn and forget? How does learning and forgetting occur? In this talk we will explore these questions and review the neurological processes that make learning and forgetting to happen. We will also review well established techniques to improve our learning and memorizing abilities. From the importance of different forms of attention, to the consolidation of memories through synaptic connections, we will study the roll of the hippocampal formation, the amygdala, and the neocortex. This will be exposed in the paradigm of neuronal connectivity highlighted by the experiments of “The Jennifer Aniston neuron” explaining how distant neurons share different memories, the role of originality to strengthen dendritic spines, and the importance of positive attitude, mood, and sleep to optimize learning and memory.