the prefrontal cortex is where those is where those...
TRANSCRIPT
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions:
The Real Higher Order Processing
Dr. Judy WillisApril 13, 2011
The Prefrontal Cortex The Prefrontal Cortex Is where those Is where those skillsetskillsetcan develop, with can develop, with your helpyour help
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
ReactiveReactiveInvoluntary Brain Involuntary Brain
for Survivalfor Survival
PrefrontalPrefrontalCortexCortex
The CEO in residence is the Executive Function System
PREFRONTAL CORTEX
Emotional management
The Prefrontal CortexMultiple Functions
Long-term memory
Executive function
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
Poll Question: Select a list you think most applies to dog characteristics and which tocat characteristics
List List List AList A BBList AList A
Planning aheadDelay immediate gratificationRisk assessmentJudgmentToleranceEmpathyAdaptable
AgilityGroomingMood shifts
Prefrontal Cortex Percent of Brain Volume
Dog 10%Dog 10%
Cat 3%Cat 3%
Human Human 20%20%
Executive Functions Directed by PFC
Cat 3%Cat 3%
Dog 10%Dog 10%Plan aheadDelay immediate gratificationRisk assessmentJudgmentToleranceEmpathyAdaptableComprehend “new tricks”
AgilityGroomingMood shifts
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
Executive FunctionsExecutive FunctionsExecutive FunctionsExecutive Functionsare are the the SkillsetsSkillsets for for 2121stst Century SuccessCentury Success
Listener PollListener Poll
Which Which one or two one or two skillsets do skillsets do you thinkyou think will be will be most critical most critical for 21for 21stst Century Success? Century Success?
AnalyzeAnalyze (Plan ahead)(Plan ahead)PrioritizePrioritizeConsidered decision making Considered decision making Delay of immediate gratification Delay of immediate gratification Goal planning Goal planning
Executive FunctionsExecutive Functions are theare theSkillsetsSkillsets for 21for 21stst Century SuccessCentury Success
REMEMBERGoal planning Goal planning Risk assessment Risk assessment Judgment Judgment Tolerance Tolerance Empathy Empathy Adaptability Adaptability OrganizeOrganizeComprehend “new tricks”Comprehend “new tricks”
The Dog
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
PrefrontalCortex
Pruning and myelination Prefrontal
CortexPrefrontal
Cortexthinning from age 5-25Co te
Pruning and myelination from age 5-25
Cortex
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
Abstraction, reasoning, deduction, critical analysis,
Neuroimaging correlates executive function use with PFC activity
Abstraction, reasoning, deduction, critical analysis, considered decision making, goal planning, prioritizing, judgment, tolerance, empathy, & consideration of alternative perspectives
Meta-analysis of 20 neuroimaging studies of cognition. (Duncan, 2001).
Rote memorization and working memory do not have the capacity to keep pace with the exponential information growth
Long-term & conceptual memory storage are limitless
Strengthen PFC Strengthen PFC networks during the school yearsnetworks during the school yearswhen they are undergoing their when they are undergoing their
OpportunityOpportunity
most rapid, extensive changesmost rapid, extensive changes
Incorporating Use of Incorporating Use of Executive Functions in Executive Functions in LearningLearning
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
NeuroplasticityNeuroplasticity
Promote students’ brains’ Promote students’ brains’ neuroplasticity to strengthen neuroplasticity to strengthen developing executive function developing executive function neural networksneural networks
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s Neuroplasticity is the brain’s response to activity through a response to activity through a neural circuitneural circuit
Children need to use PFC Children need to use PFC Executive Functions during their Executive Functions during their
PRACTICE MAKE PERMANENT PRACTICE MAKE PERMANENT
Executive Functions during their Executive Functions during their most active development becausemost active development because
Activate developing
Executive Function Exercise:
Prefrontal Prefrontal cortexcortex
A ith liA ith li networks during their growth spurt
SynapseSynapseNeuronNeuron
Axon with myelinAxon with myelin
DendriteDendrite
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
Myelin wrapped around axon
PFCPFCDevelopmentDevelopment
Myelin thickening increases with activation
Ming-Chang Chiang, M. et al.2009. Genetics of Brain Fiber Architecture and Intellectual Performance. Journal of Neuroscience, 29 (7): 2212
Faster PFC processing correlates with intellectual performance
Thicker myelin = faster processing
With few connections traffic flow is inefficient & slow
More efficient flow of brain traffic when with more connections
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
• Opportunities to build flexible perspectives: Encourage prediction and revise of opinions
Executive Functions Planned into Units
• Communicate & collaborate: Group projects
• Build skillset of interpreting and applying new future information: Incorporate choice and open-ended tasks
Discuss fact versus opinion:Discuss fact versus opinion:–– TV commercials, internet sitesTV commercials, internet sites
Executive Function Building Activities
Evaluate opinions on topics of interest or Evaluate opinions on topics of interest or current events: current events: twitterfall.comtwitterfall.com (create class (create class list of what makes a good source to followlist of what makes a good source to follow))
Multiple ways to solve problems in mathMultiple ways to solve problems in math
learning by using learning by using it in a different context it in a different context –– personally personally meaningful & authenticmeaningful & authentic
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
Analysis & Decision-makingReasoningEstimation and Prediction
Transfer Activities to Build Executive Functions
Planning how best to teach or communicatethe information
PrioritizingGoal planning and monitoringSelf-assessment & revision
Discussion and debate: Discussion and debate: Support opinions with reasons Support opinions with reasons Take opposite viewpointTake opposite viewpoint
B h f i d h l b B h f i d h l b
Executive Function Building Activities
Brochures from airports and hotels about Brochures from airports and hotels about “THE BEST….. In the City”“THE BEST….. In the City”
Develop solutions to Develop solutions to a school or a school or community community problem. Present to a real problem. Present to a real ““audienceaudience”. Use technology (survey ”. Use technology (survey monkey, monkey, twitterpolltwitterpoll))
Extended neural networks represent pthe construction of information connected as concepts
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
What happens when students can use executive functions and conceptual neural networks to transfer knowledge and create something new?
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
Summary
Executive function correlates with PFC Activity
PFC network activation increases the neural t k b l ti it
√√
networks by neuroplasticity
The PFC undergoes these changes most profoundly during the school years which means,
√
WEBSITE WEBSITE
For Brain Owner’s Manuals For Brain Owner’s Manuals and more linksand more linksand more linksand more links
Judy Willis Judy Willis www.RADTeach.comwww.RADTeach.com
Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD
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Ask Dr. Judy: Strengthening the Brain’s Executive Functions: The Real Higher Order Processing - April 13, 2011
© 2011 ASCD