The brain is a truly amazing instrument.
Research on the human brain has brought an explosion of excitement and promise to our understanding of ourselves. As we discover more and more about the brain and its function, responsibilities, and organization, we hopefully can translate findings into educational programs, practices, and policies that take advantage of what we’ve learned in the laboratory and beyond.
Non-invasive technologies such as the CT Scan and the MRI play a large part in our ability to peek inside the head and see what the brain is doing. When you look at a color, or hear a sound, or smell a favorite aroma, what part of the brain goes into action? When you’re asked to do something complicated with language—or drive a car, or recognize a face—which part or parts of your brain come alive with electrical impulses? In fact, what are the different parts of the brain? With specific kinds of disability, how are these parts the same or different?
This page connects you with resources of more information on this ever-developing story of brain research. It isn’t intended to be exhaustive of the resources available, but it will get you started…and then some! Enjoy.
- ABCs of the brain
- What learning does to your brain
- Applying brain research to education
- Brain research and disability
The ABCs of the Brain
Brain basics: Know your brain.
NINDS offers this ten-page intro to the human brain, including information on how a healthy brain works, how to keep it healthy, and what happens when it is diseased or dysfunctional.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/brain_basics_know_your_brain.pdf
How your brain works.
From Discovery Health.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous-system/brain.htm
Brain facts.
The Society for Neuroscience offers Brain Facts, a 74-page primer on the brain and nervous system. Designed for a lay audience as an introduction to neuroscience.
http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=brainfacts
The secret life of the brain.
This 2002 PBS series covers a lifetime of brain development, from infancy to old age. The series and the Web site use visual imagery and compelling human stories to help the audience understand the difficult underlying scientific concepts.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/index.html
Neuroscience for kids (and, frankly, probably most of us adults).
Can’t plow through the way neuroscientists write their research articles and findings? Then Neuroscience for Kids is for you! It’s an easy-to-read Web site that’s been created for all students and teachers who would like to learn about the brain and the nervous system, neuroimagining and other techniques that neuroscientists use, and recent brain research of interest.
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
Detailed brain basics at the Brain Connection.
Find out about the brain’s part in hearing, seeing, moving, the nature of specific disorders, and much more.
http://brainconnection.positscience.com/library/?main=bbhome/main
Brain connections: Your source guide to information on brain diseases and disorders.
Here you’ll find contact info for more than 240 organizations in the United States likely to help those looking for information, referrals, and other guidance in connection with brain-related disorders.
http://www.dana.org/news/publications/publication.aspx?id=19148
What Learning Does to Your Brain
The 2010 Progress Report on Brain Research.
Each year, the Progress Report describes the top findings in brain research during the previous year.
http://www.dana.org/news/publications/publication.aspx?id=24514
Rethinking the Brain / Reconceptualización Del Cerebro
Child Care Aware (the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies) explains the importance of early life in brain development and how early experiences can have long-lasting effects. Parents, educators and child care providers can use this knowledge to intervene in ways that lead to better functional outcomes for children.
English: http://childcareaware.org/parents-and-guardians/resources/additional-resources/rethinking-the-brain
Spanish: http://ccaapps.childcareaware.org/sp/resources/additional_resources/rethinking_the_brain.php
Behavior matters: How research improves our lives.
La conducta sí importa: Cómo la investigación mejora nuestras vidas.
These publications explore how research has improved our lives in specific areas: health, psychology, communications and human connection. The link below will take you to the page where you can access each of these.
http://www.decadeofbehavior.org/specialpublications.cfm
Brain briefings.
http://web.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=brainbriefings_main
The Society for Neuroscience offers this series of two-page newsletters explaining how basic neuroscience discoveries lead to clinical applications. Find briefings on how the brain is affected by emotions, stress, gender, drugs, exercise, bliss, and other factors. Learn about brain mechanisms, the technologies of brain research, and what brain research is revealing about certain nervous system disorders and diseases.
Neuroplasticity: A big term for an important trait of our brains.
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/plast.html
What? Our brains are made of plastic? Nay. But the plasticity of our brains is an amazing attribute. Read all about it at the no-pain, easy-to-understand link above.
More on plasticity and how learning changes your brain.
http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/
Applying Brain Research to Education
Core concepts.
This site discusses fundamental principles that one should know about the brain and nervous system, the most complex living structure known in the universe. Neuroscience Core Concepts have broad application for K-12 teachers and the general public, offering the most important insights gained through decades of brain research.
http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=core_concepts
Using brain-based teaching strategies to create supportive early childhood environments.
This 6-pager comes from the The National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education.
http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200807/BTJPrimaryInterest.pdf
Practical classroom applications from current brain research.
http://www.brains.org/
How can brain research be integrated into the classroom?
Teacher tap can tell you.
http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic70.htm
Brain-friendly teaching: From sensory to long-term memory.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev156b.shtml
Brain-based research prompts innovative teaching techniques in the classroom.
This article comes from Edutopia.
http://www.edutopia.org/key-largo-technology-brain-research
Brain Research and Disability
How the special needs brain learns (2nd edition).
This second edition from 2007 builds on the latest data by examining both simple and complex learning strategies that can be adapted for students with learning disabilities such as ADHD/ADD; speech, reading, writing, and math disabilities; emotional and behavioral disorders; autism; and Asperger’s syndrome. $35.
http://www.nprinc.com/brain/hsnb.htm
Using brain-based research to help students with special needs.
A 5-page summary, from the Principal’s Partnership.
http://www.principalspartnership.com/specedbrain.pdf
What’s the real deficit in AD/HD?
From the Dana Foundation.
http://www.dana.org/media/detail.aspx?id=28932
Autism: Specific areas of the brain linked to ASDs.
Using advanced imaging technology, a research team headed by Dr. Martha R. Herbert of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School in Boston has identified specific portions of the brain’s white matter that are abnormally large in children with autism and developmental language disorder. Read more at:
http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/MGH-Study-Details-Brain-Changes-In-Autism-Language-Disorder.htm
On behavior and the brain.
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/
Dyslexia and the brain: What does current research tell us?
From LDonline.
http://www.ldonline.org/article/Dyslexia_and_the_Brain%3A_What_Does_Current_Research_Tell_Us%3F
Brain research, reading, and dyslexia.
From Great Schools.
http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/LD-ADHD/brain-research.gs?content=668
Would you like to visit one of the other pages in Effective Practices in the Classroom and School?
If so, here are helpful quick-jump links.
- Understanding How the Brain Learns (you’re already here)
- Understanding Universal Design
- Connecting with the Special Education Curriculum
- Addressing the General Education Curriculum
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