"The brain is always learning, there's nothing it likes better!"

Not every student will agree with this quote from Prof. Dr. Dr. Manfred Spitzer, the director of the Transfer Center for Neuroscience and Learning (ZNL) in Ulm. Many students have become frustrated when learning vocabulary, chemical formulas, or grammar rules. However, if you follow a few rules, learning can not only be fun, but also much more effective. Modern brain research is deciphering how the brain learns and, together with educators, is developing strategies to optimize the learning process. Learn how to learn properly.

What happens in the brain when we learn?

Learning is a highly complex process involving countless neural mechanisms. During learning, the contact points between nerve cells change, new connections are created, and existing ones are strengthened. A memory trace is created, and the more often we actively use this trace, the better we remember the stored information.
"When we acquire knowledge, the happiness hormone dopamine is released. We feel joy when we learn new things. That's why learning is easier for us when we develop a passion for a subject or enjoy questioning connections," explains Professor Spitzer in Psychologie-Aktuell.com.

How can emotions and movements influence the learning process?

This can be used to develop strategies that support and optimize learning in classrooms. "Listening alone is not very effective. However, when words are associated with certain movements or emotions when learning a language, this also stimulates the visual, auditory, and sensorimotor centers in the brain. Students can remember the words more easily," explains Dr. Katrin Hille, Managing Director of the ZNL. Brain researchers also have clear ideas about the right learning duration: It is better to learn a foreign language for ten minutes a day than for two hours once a week. However, for scientific content, with its often complex experimental setups, a normal lesson is probably not enough.

Why should children avoid watching television immediately after vocabulary practice?

Brain researchers know, of course, that children need relaxation phases after learning to process and consolidate new knowledge. However, television is not an optimal medium for relaxation, as it floods the brain with further new stimuli. It's better to engage in artistic activities, for example, to recharge cognitive batteries.

But how do you do it right – learning?

Researchers at the ZNL (Central German Language and Information Centre) want to discover how to learn correctly. What do the findings of brain research mean for schools and for even better teaching? Practical experience shows what works and what doesn't, which theories are valid and which aren't. Further information is available on the ZNL website. You can also order a DVD on the topic "The Brain Is Always Learning. Brain Research and School" there. The film (40 minutes, €25) shows how to learn correctly and effectively.