Research -- StepUp to Learn

Can Coding Boost Executive Function Skills?

Can Coding Boost Executive Function Skills?

Researchers question how teaching computational thinking skills can help elementary students’ executive function skills.

Baby Babble and the Malleable Brain

Baby Babble and the Malleable Brain

Princeton neuroscientists find surprising clues from chatty monkeys who share the power of babble.

Scientists Just Found the Brain’s Secret GPS System

Scientists Just Found the Brain’s Secret GPS System

Researchers discovered two brain regions that work as a “neural compass," keeping people oriented in virtual city navigation

The Paradox of Prior Knowledge on Learning Outcomes

The Paradox of Prior Knowledge on Learning Outcomes

Researchers assumed more relevant prior knowledge would lead to better learning. Here's what really happened. 

Feeling Mental Exhaustion? These Two Brain Areas May Control Whether You Give Up or Persevere

Feeling Mental Exhaustion? These Two Brain Areas May Control Whether You Give Up or Persevere

Two areas of the brain may work in combination to tell the brain when it’s “feeling” tired and either quits or continues exerting mental effort.

Thinking in Sync: How Brain Rhythms Support Intelligence

Thinking in Sync: How Brain Rhythms Support Intelligence

Your brain has a hidden beat — here's how smarter minds sync to it.

Decades-Old Assumptions About Brain Plasticity Upended

Decades-Old Assumptions About Brain Plasticity Upended

Researchers challenge a decades-old assumption in neuroscience by showing that the brain uses distinct transmission sites — not a shared site — to achieve different types of plasticity. 

Rethinking Visual Aids: How Decorative Images Impact Learning

Rethinking Visual Aids: How Decorative Images Impact Learning

Researchers challenge a widely held belief that decorative images hinder learning.

The Key to Spotting Dyslexia Early Could Be AI-Powered Handwriting Analysis

The Key to Spotting Dyslexia Early Could Be AI-Powered Handwriting Analysis

AI shows promise detecting dyslexia and dysgraphia from what children write on paper and tablets.

Brain Scans Reveal What Happens in the Mind When Insight Strikes

Brain Scans Reveal What Happens in the Mind When Insight Strikes

Researchers use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to record brain activity while solving visual brain teasers. The results were surprising!

Struggling with Math Word Problems? Try Improving Working Memory

Struggling with Math Word Problems? Try Improving Working Memory

A new study explores the role of working memory in word problem-solving for students with and without math difficulties.

How Handwriting Helps Kids Develop Reading and Writing

How Handwriting Helps Kids Develop Reading and Writing

Researchers test handwriting and typing on the ability to learn letters and to assimilate and remember word structure.