How Emotions Effect Learning

1. Emotion and Reason

1.1. More neurons go from emotional part of brain to the logical than from the logical part of the brain to the emotional.

1.2. Emotions are a more powerful determinant of our behavior than logic.

1.3. Reason may override emotions, but our emotions don't change.

1.4. Emotions exist among a continuum, but their interpretation and how we deal with those emotions vary from person to person.

2. In School

2.1. Because we don't know much about our emotions, we don't know how to regulate them in school- beyond "good" and "bad"

2.2. Emotions are rarely incorporated into a curriculum.

2.3. Stimulating and emotionally positive classrooms are rarely, if loosely, tied to student and teacher health.

3. Peptides and Biology

3.1. old paradigm was brain/ body split: brain interprets emotions, our body reacts. Now, new paradigm is that brain and body are integrated when reacting to emotions.

3.2. Peptide molecules: molecular messengers of emotion.

3.2.1. effect different organs.

3.3. different levels of peptides affect our emotional state

3.4. peptide messages can change in different areas of the body, causing entirely different emotional states or reactions.

3.5. can cause significant levels of long-term emotional stress, which can adversely affect different areas of the body.

4. Limbic system

4.1. Principle regulator of emotional states.

4.2. Powerful enough to override thought and logic

4.3. Most important parts relating to emotion are the amygdala, hypothalamus and thalamus

5. How can I use this in the classroom?

5.1. Schools should get students to discuss their emotions in terms of a lesson versus separating their emotions from learning

5.2. memories are contextual, so certain contexts will cause students to have greater recall.

5.3. Emotions exist. We shouldn't try to radically change them or ignore them

5.4. emotionally charged classrooms are counterproductive