Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527154750.htm
This study done by Rutgers University shows that early mastery of tasks may keep more brain cells related to that task alive.
They performed the study on young rats, associating a sound with a motor response. They found that the previously dyed hippocampus (learning center of the brain) cells were still living in the rats that had mastered the task, but had mostly died in those that failed said task.
This can also be applied to young human minds because of similar brain structure, emphasizing the importance of learning in youth.
Nature of Science Themes:
Role of Credibility: The study was done by a university
This is very interesting to me so I found an interview with Tracey Shors, the lead neuroscientist. In the interview Shors discussed how helpful this information will be in child education. She also verified that learning does NOT make more cells, it simply helps keep them alive. In the interview she talks about the research project and where to go from here, “what it has shown me, especially as an educator, is how difficult it is to achieve optimal learning for our students. You don’t want the material to be too easy to learn and yet still have it too difficult where the student doesn’t learn and gives up,” Shors said.
ReplyDeletehttp://news.rutgers.edu/research-news/learning-early-life-may-help-keep-brain-cells-alive/20140526#.U4qvIWTrWic
This study shows the importance of starting education at a young age. I think this research is evident in places like China where children begin school at younger ages and are out testing American students in all subjects. This may also lead to studies that show that early learning could decrease the risk of Alzheimer's and Dementia due to the increased brain health.
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