S7 E5: Your Brain Chemistry When Learning (with Jessica Billiet)
Dec 11, 2024
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Jessica Billiet, an organizational psychologist and owner of Excelsior Ranch, shares her expertise on brain chemistry and learning. She discusses the roles of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in enhancing focus and memory. The conversation explores practical strategies for onboarding Gen Z in remote environments, emphasizing emotional support and engagement. Jessica also offers tips for creating brain-friendly learning experiences, linking skill development to personal goals, ensuring a culture of continuous growth.
Dopamine plays a critical role in learning by enhancing engagement through positive feedback and rewarding experiences, which motivates active participation.
Structuring learning into short segments not only helps maintain focus through acetylcholine but also promotes better retention and application of knowledge.
Deep dives
The Role of Neurotransmitters in Learning
Dopamine is highlighted as a key neurotransmitter involved in learning, serving as a reward signal that reinforces behaviors. When individuals experience positive feedback, dopamine levels rise, encouraging them to pay attention and repeat those behaviors. To enhance learning, incorporating elements like progress markers, badges, or verbal acknowledgments can facilitate dopamine release, thus increasing engagement. This suggests that creating rewarding learning experiences is essential for motivating individuals to actively participate in the learning process.
Enhancing Focus and Memory Retention
Acetylcholine is crucial for maintaining focus and facilitating memory formation, which can be optimized by structuring learning tasks to avoid distractions. Focusing on smaller, concentrated segments of learning helps leverage acetylcholine's role, making it easier for learners to retain information. It's recommended to break learning into 10 to 15-minute segments followed by opportunities for discussion or application of knowledge. This approach ensures better absorption of information and supports the formation of long-term memory.
Managing Stress and its Impact on Learning
Cortisol, often associated with stress, can enhance alertness in small amounts but is detrimental when present in excessive, prolonged amounts. High cortisol levels can disrupt brain function, particularly in areas critical for memory formation, which undermines the ability to learn and retain new information. To mitigate the negative effects of chronic stress, it is vital to create supportive and engaging learning environments that promote well-being. This approach not only facilitates better information retention but also enhances overall motivation and focus.
Designing Brain-Friendly Learning Experiences
Effective learning design involves creating opportunities for interactivity, application of knowledge, and feedback loops to foster engagement. Chunking content into manageable segments and incorporating real-life projects can greatly enhance the learning experience by making it relevant and applicable. Designers can improve retention by ensuring the content is concise and allowing learners to actively engage with it rather than passively consuming information. This approach emphasizes the importance of creating brain-friendly learning experiences that drive meaningful outcomes and business results.
We are joined by Jessica Billiet to discuss the chemicals in the brain and how they influence learning. We dive into neurotransmitters like dopamine, glutamate, serotonin, and cortisol, explaining their roles and how learning professionals can harness them to improve development. We also dive into practical tips for onboarding, team settings, and creating brain-friendly learning experiences.