The Human Brain

The human brain is a complex organ. It weighs approximately 3

pounds, and it contains about 100 billion neurons and 100 trillion connections.
The brain is the command central of all that we think, feel, and do.

The brain is divided into two halves or hemispheres- the left and the
right hemisphere. Within each half, particular regions control certain functions.
The two sides of the brain look very much alike, but there is a huge difference
in processing information (Kadivar, 2020). Despite these differences, they do
not work independently of each other. Nerve fibers connect different parts of
the brain. If a brain injury severed the connection between sides, the person
could still function. But the lack of integration would cause some forms of
impairment.

The human brain is constantly reorganizing itself. It is adaptable to

changes. Whether these changes are physical or through life experience, the
human brain is tailor-made for learning.

The Left Brain vs. The Right Brain

Categorizing people as either left or right-brained originated from Roger

Sperry's split-brain research in the 1960s. He performed experiments on cats,
monkeys, and humans to study the functional differences of the two brain
hemispheres. To do this, Sperry severed the corpus callosum (a bundle of
neurons connecting the left and right hemispheres) as a treatment for epilepsy
in humans. He discovered that the left side of the brain is responsible for
language understanding and articulation, while the right brain governs
attention.

The findings of the study were misinterpreted and led to associating the
hemispheres with personalities (Fedrizzi, n.d.). For example, people who are
more verbal, analytical, and orderly are said to be left-brained, while those
who are more visual and intuitive are said to have a more dominant right
brain.

While certain mental processes occur in either the left or right brain
hemisphere, there is no evidence that people have a stronger network in their
left or right brain. The two sides of the brain work together and complement
each other. In a study of inter-hemispheric activity, it was found out that
mathematically gifted adolescents had better cooperation between two brain
hemispheres compared to their non-gifted peers. This supports the notion that
better integration of the left and right hemispheres is responsible for stronger
cognitive skills.

Whether you are solving a difficult math problem or making art, both
sides of the brain are providing input. You are not left-brained or right-brained,
but you can strengthen your skills and grow your intelligence.

Effective Study Skills Based on Brain Science

 (Putnam et al.,2016 as cited in Bacon, 2017) defined learning as "the
act of remembering material, making connections between concepts, putting
concepts into your own words, creating concrete examples, and asking
questions about how and why things work." In other words, learning takes
effort, and studying requires practice.

Every student has his own study style, but according to neuroscientists,
there are more effective ways to learn things.

1. Retrieval of information instead of rereading texts

There has been strong evidence that re-reading and highlighting are only useful in
developing the ability to recognize the material. However, techniques that force the
learner to retrieve information from memory produce long-term performance. (Bacon,
2017)

Michael Mauk, a professor of neuroscience, recommends that students use

flashcards. Instead of reading straight through a chapter, pause every ten minutes
and write down the key points from what you remember (Hunwick, 2020).
2. Spacing out study sessions instead of cramming
According to Carpenter, Cepeda, Rohrer, Kang, and Pashler, 2012 as cited in (Bacon
2017), memory is strengthened by waiting until one is about to forget the information,
and then trying to retrieve that information, which means that spacing out study
sessions strengthens the learner's ability to recall information (Bacon, 2017).

Instead of cramming, it is more efficient to study a material every night using recall
techniques (Hunwick, 2020). Mauk suggests making it a habit to review lectures at
night by reciting or writing down what you learned using your own words (Hunwick,
2020).
3. Visually organizing material through a concept map
Creating from memory a concept map that visually organizes the material you are
learning will result in much more learning than a perfectly drawn concept map.
(Bacon, 2017)

Mind Mapping as a Learning Tool

Using pictures to record knowledge and model systems have been

used for centuries in learning, brainstorming, visual thinking, and problem-
solving (Mindmapmaker.org, n.d.), but it was Tony Buzan, a British
psychologist, who developed and popularized the concept of mind mapping
as a note-taking technique (Erdem, 2017).

According to Buzan, mind maps have four important features (Erdem,

2017):

a) The subject is written at the center of the mind.

b) The main themes of a subject are written as branches connected to the
center.
c) Branches state a key picture or keyword on the connected lines
d) Branches have a structure that is related to each other

Most people make notes using lined paper or black ink; however,
adding color can aid the learning process and can help to make learning fun.
The notes-taking studied is the central image, and the main themes radiate
out from the central image on branches. Each branch holds a key image or a
keyword. Details are then added to the main branches and radiate further out.
Mind maps have a wide variety of uses; for example, note taking, revision
planning, planning for writing, and problem-solving can all be successfully
carried out using the technique. The colors and the graphics used will help
children organize their ideas and thoughts. They can be very simple or quite
detailed depending upon the age of the children and the complexity of the
subject. With the use of a mind map, remembering the information becomes
easier!

Below is an example of a simple mind map linked to the information

(Dodd 2004).

How to draw a mind map:

1. Turn the page on its side (landscape). Use plain paper.

2. Draw the central image using different colors. The central image should
encapsulate the subject of the map.
3. Add the branches representing the subject's main topics or themes
using keywords or images.
4. Add detail with more keywords and images. Use color.
5. Print the words clearly.
6. Use arrows to connect linked ideas (Coursehero).
Two types of Mind Map
HANDWRITTEN - Traditional mind maps made by using the hands.

PROS:

 has personal touch, uniqueness, and individuality.

 does not require a computer, so you can easily draw a mind map

CONS:

 there is a difficulty when one wishes to edit or modify it

 it can be messy

DIGITAL/COMPUTERIZED - Modern mind maps generated through

computers
PROS:

 can be easily modified, edited, and updated

 appears to be more presentable and formal
 it can be done easily if one is knowledgeable in computer

CONS:

 not accessible to those who don't have a computer