Could a 'thinking cap' help us learn? - Science Nation

Many K-12 teachers suggest to students that they should “put your thinking caps on,” and one day, students might just do that for real. Vanderbilt University psychologist Geoffrey Woodman says that’s because scientists are being equipped with more and more tools they can use to better understand the brain, and now, they can even eavesdrop on individual neurons.

Initial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) allowed Woodman and his team at the Vanderbilt University Visual Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory to study memory and perception. Then, the researchers tested their theory that electrical stimulation of the medial frontal cortex can boost learning and improve decision-making.

The research in this episode was funded by NSF award #0957072, Interactions Between Visual Working Memory Representations and Mechanisms of Perceptual Selection.

Miles O'Brien, Science Nation Correspondent
Marsha Walton, Science Nation Producer

[harshaperuka]

scientists: what scientists call 'medial frontal cortex'
me: wait, are you not a scientist?

[kensonny]

How has this technology evolved over the years? And how about any adverse effects of chronic use...?

[SparQz]

Can it help with executive functioning in ADHD?

[Manfred.Druschowitz]

I can see moving picture on command with my eyes closed also focusing in, but can't recall it on a drawing

[Destrothjaan]

I sure could use one of these! Like over clocking my brain for college. Limitless potential!

[nicolekinch]

this is interesting and yeah why are schizophrenics always going mental over god n stuff? babbling about god this, god that.