Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system (i.e., the brain, spinal cord and nerves). Neuroscientists seek to understand the nervous system's structure, how it develops and its role.
An interdisciplinary science that draws on biology, psychology and even philosophy, there are many branches within the study of neuroscience. A cognitive neuroscientist will examine how the brain underpins thinking, while a behavioural neuroscientist will seek to understand the interplay between the brain and behaviour.
The human brain is truly complex. However, thanks to neuroscience, we have a greater understanding of how the complex structures and processes of the brain impact human functioning and behaviour.
Why is it beneficial to understand neuroscience in early education and care?
Neuroscience is complex and not something we study during professional training, so why should we pay attention to this field of study?
Kerrie Maguire is a learning and development specialist at CELA and facilitator of our Understanding Neuroscience to Support Children's Behaviour Micro Credential. She says that the study of neuroscience, even at a basic level, can support educators to help children co-regulate their emotions.
“We often see behaviour as a choice,” she explains. “But up until the age of eight, the emotional part of the brain is centre-stage of brain development, and children are living in their emotions. I’ve worked with children for almost 30 years. In that time, a positive praise approach has always been a key theoretical approach. But when you understand what is happening neurologically in a child’s brain, you can see that this isn’t always the answer.”
Neuroscience is just one element of the multidisciplinary approach that more and more educators are using in their practice. From neuroscience to positive psychology and emotional intelligence, there is much we can learn from disciplines outside those we traditionally rely on in the early childhood sector.
Neuroscience concepts for early educators
As broad as the field of neuroscience is, we can hone in on some key concepts to apply when working with children. These are concepts we explore in CELA’s new Micro Credential to further empower educators, particularly when dealing with children exhibiting behaviours of concern.
The triune brain
In the 1960s, neuroscientist Paul McLean developed the concept of the triune brain. He proposed that mammalian brains (including our human brains) have three layers:
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Neocortex or thinking/rational brain
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Limbic or emotional brain
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Basal ganglia or survival brain (sometimes referred to as the reptilian or primal brain)
A person's response to stimuli depends on which part of the brain they are using. In the neocortex or thinking brain, we can respond rationally to a situation. In the basal ganglia or survival brain we rely on the fight or flight response. In the limbic brain, responses are emotional.1
“When children are building social relationships, they need to be in the neocortex or thinking brain because that’s where you develop relationships,” explains Kerrie. “This is also the learning part of their brain. When we’re trying to teach children when they’re in the limbic or emotional brain, this isn’t the optimal part of the brain for teaching or learning.”
How the right D.O.S.E of brain chemicals can support children
Another concept we can use as educators is D.O.S.E. The letters in D.O.S.E refer to the four chemicals the brain needs for thinking and learning, sometimes referred to as "feel good" chemicals. These chemicals are dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins.2
“One of the things we do in the Micro Credential is to get educators to identify when they’re building those key chemicals for the children,” says Kerrie. “For example, transitions–such as transitioning from indoor activities to outdoor play–can be very stressful for children. I encourage educators to think about the transition activities they can get the children to do, such as walking like a crab or doing 10 star jumps before they move outside. This can produce feel-good endorphins. If we connect with children while they're doing it, then we're also building oxytocin.”
Kerrie explains that these strategies can be used to recognise the limbic states of the children and better support them.
Calming in the eye of the storm
Ensuring that children have good levels of feel good or D.O.S.E chemicals can help place them in the optimal space for learning.
Educators can consider building dopamine, serotonin and endorphins through aspects of the program that focus on music, laughter, singing and dancing. Include frequent brain breaks, consider the lighting and enable access to physical activity and outdoor spaces.
Connections between educators and children can help to release oxytocin, so ensure there are opportunities for these connections throughout the program.
Would you like to build on your understanding around neuroscience and children’s behaviour?
Our new self-paced, online Micro Credential takes a deep dive into how the brain impacts children’s behaviour to help you support children’s learning, well-being and development, particularly when children are exhibiting behaviours of concern. Participants can build thier knowledge and understanding by working through a range of tutorials, activities, videos and quizzes at a time that suits them.
What you will learn:
- How the brain is structured using the theory of the triune brain.
- How the triune brain structures integrate with key brain chemicals to enable effective learning or to create behavioural stressors.
- How to understand key neurological terminology to identify limbic stressors.
- How children learn from a neurological perspective.
- How to support children who are exhibiting behaviours of concern.
- How to implement key neurological strategies that support children's learning and wellbeing and reduce professional fatigue.
Suitable for all levels of early education professional | 3.5 hours of study | NQS areas 1, 5, 7 |
NESA ACCREDITED PD
Learn more about this Micro Credential and how it can support you or your team in everyday practice.
References:
1. Bernard J. Baars, Nicole M. Gage. in Cognition, Brain, and Consciousness (Second Edition), 2010
2. Khiron Clinics, D.O.S.E. : The brain’s happy chemicals, explained. January 2020.