How Our Brains Learn
Hidden Brain
Aug 18
How Our Brains Learn
How Our Brains Learn
Hidden Brain
Aug 18
Many of us have experienced the dull haze of disengagement in classrooms or meetings, where learning feels irrelevant and motivation fades. But what if the key to transforming education and work lies not in rote instruction, but in deep emotional engagement? In this episode, psychologist and neuroscientist Mary Helen Immordino-Yang explores how passion, meaning, and transcendent thinking can reignite curiosity and reshape the way we learn.
Mary Helen Immordino-Yang discusses how emotional engagement is essential for meaningful learning. Drawing from her own childhood experiences and studies on adolescent brain development, she reveals how passion projects and real-world connections foster deep learning. Neurological research shows that transcendent thinking—reflecting on broader meaning and context—can counteract the negative effects of trauma and violence on the brain. The conversation also highlights the shortcomings of traditional education systems that prioritize content over curiosity. By designing curricula around big ideas and real-life applications, educators can spark motivation and resilience. Immordino-Yang advocates for a shift toward student-centered learning environments that prioritize meaning, identity, and long-term psychological growth, especially in the age of AI.
03:32
03:32
Conducted a science project on eyeballs, placing cow eyeballs in the fridge
06:39
06:39
Students became more engaged in science after discussing evolution, race, and identity
17:09
17:09
Students engage in transcendent thinking by connecting stories to broader moral and global concepts.
23:36
23:36
Transcendent thinking involves coordinated brain network activity driven by strong emotion.
28:45
28:45
Transcendent thinking counteracts negative effects of violence on brain development
35:27
35:27
Excellent teachers do more social and emotional work, with higher brain activity when grading their own students.
42:09
42:09
A philosophical shift from what to teach to how students develop
49:12
49:12
Teachers should engage students in transcendent thinking, connecting learning to real-life significance.
59:20
59:20
Start with big ideas and community-change opportunities to engage students.
1:05:46
1:05:46
Using case studies and real-world examples to spark curiosity and work backward to understand brain function
1:15:34
1:15:34
The daughter re-engaged with learning for her own sake, which changed her approach to school and led to pursuing a Ph.D.
