The Neuroscience of Learning: Why Emotions are Fundamental to Academic Excellence

Social emotions like admiration, compassion and inspiration shape how we act, who we become, and how we experience our own lives. But how? And what does this mean for teachers and the design of educational activities? In this workshop you will be introduced to the current research on the neurobiology and psychology of social emotions, including these emotions’ deep visceral roots in the feeling and regulation of the body and consciousness, their connections to memory, and their propensity to heighten one’s own subjective sense of self-awareness, motivation and purpose.

Mary Helen Immordino-Yang will present her neuropsychological research on emotional feelings and connections to memory, cultural learning and the development of interests and expertise. She will share findings from her cross-cultural studies as well as from studies in Los Angeles-area schools. The findings have important implications for our understanding of child and adolescent development, and can help educators to think in new ways about the purpose, scope and assessment of high-quality education. Her studies underscore the necessity of supporting students’ humanity to optimally support their academic excellence.