Hidden Brain How Our Brains Learn
Aug 18, 2025
Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a psychologist and neuroscientist at USC, discusses the essence of engagement in learning. She dives into why traditional educational settings often lead to apathy and shares her own journey of discovering the power of experiential learning. Immordino-Yang highlights how emotional responses significantly affect our motivation to learn and the transformative impact of connecting personal narratives to broader societal issues. Her insights advocate for a shift in education that prioritizes curiosity, emotional engagement, and meaningful learning experiences.
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From Soft Dropout To Scientific Passion
- Mary Helen stopped attending school and thrived after moving to a private school with hands-on science projects.
- She dissected cow eyeballs and designed self-directed projects that reignited her love of learning.
Students See Science As Their Story
- Mary Helen taught immigrant students who asked why early hominids were depicted with dark skin and connected evolution to their lives.
- The question sparked curiosity and real-world exploration like a student collecting snails from the beach.
Stories Evoke Measurable Engagement
- Using real-life mini-documentaries reliably evokes deep emotional engagement in lab participants.
- Mary Helen linked subjective reports of feeling to brain and body activity measured in the scanner.
