Finally , a brain science finding with a major impact on teaching … and the story of my change
Think Tank : Exercise
Curtis Kelly
Finally , a brain science finding with a major impact on teaching … and the story of my change
When I first heard the podcast ten years ago (“ Deep ” link on first page ), it changed my life . That is why I chose it for this Think Tank . Ginger Campbell , the host of the Brain Science Podcast , considers it one of her favorites too .
When I listened to Dr . John Ratey for the first time , I understood the implications of his research right away . Unlike so many other findings in neuroscience with little impact on teaching , this one would affect the way I teach .
Rather than showing us new ways , neuroscience usually just gives the basis for what we already knew intuitively , such as that personalization leads to engagement . What Ratey found about exercise and movement , however , is different . Ratey ’ s work relates to many of our deepest concerns about the classroom : What can I do for my students when they are so faded after a long day of classes ? Is their brain power at a low too ? Ratey also provides some solutions : They need their hearts to pump harder to wash away toxins . Make them move .
Thanks to this podcast , I have made numerous changes to the way I teach . These changes did not happen right away , so let me tell you how I came to them .
To start with , I have long known that glutamate is the most important neurotransmitter in the brain – it lets neurons send signals – but I did not know that it was also toxic . If you use your brain a lot , with no neural recovery time and low blood flow , glutamate builds up . At high levels , it is toxic and causes cell damage and death , which we experience as mental fatigue . To paraphrase an NIH study :
Mental fatigue appears as a decreased ability to intake and process information over time . Mental exhaustion becomes pronounced when cognitive tasks have to be performed for longer time periods with no breaks ( cognitive loading ). It results in a lack of motivation , sensitivity to loudness and light , irritability , affect lability ( strong emotions ), stress intolerance , and headaches .
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