Students learn better when their brainwaves are in sync with this

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

Students learn better when their brainwaves are in sync with classmates and lecturers, according to new research.

They absorb important facts quicker – while blocking out irrelevant information, say scientists.

The finding sheds fresh light on intelligence - and opens the door to boosting academic performance with brain training.

Lead author Dr. Ido Davidesco said: "This is the first study to show the extent to which students' and teachers' brainwaves are in sync during real-world learning can predict how well students retain information from class."

The breakthrough helps show how the human brain works - improving understanding of Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.

Previous studies have focused on individuals in controlled laboratory settings. Dr. Davidesco and colleagues analyzed undergraduates in a real-world context.

Those whose neuronal activity was more in tune with peers and the teacher achieved higher test scores.

The New York University team even predicted correct answers based on brainwave similarities during moments of the lecture that corresponded to each question.

Senior author Professor Suzanne Dikker said: "Much of human learning happens when we interact with others, but very little is known about how this process is reflected in the brain activity of students and teachers.

"This work reveals that students whose brainwaves are more in sync with their peers and teacher are likely to learn better."

Participants wore EEG (electroencephalography) skull cap scanners. None knew each other prior to the study.

Students and instructors' brainwaves were monitored during a series of short lectures on a variety of scientific topics.

As students listened their signals became in sync with one another. Moreover, brain-activity patterns grew in similarity to the teachers over time.

Afterward, multiple-choice tests gauged what they had learned.

Dr. Davidesco said: "It's the connection among students and to their instructor that is telling about the learning process."

The researchers could not derive how well students retained information from looking at individual brainwaves.

Only synchrony between students and teachers predicted how well students learned.

Dr. Davidesco added: "Brain data collected simultaneously from groups of students can be more informative than data collected from individual students."

Differences in academic success and professional careers are attributed to a considerable degree to cognitive abilities.

The study adds to evidence they are rooted in patterns of integration. It is published in Psychological Science.