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Whether a Task Feels ‘Easy’ or ‘Hard’ May Be Due to Dopamine

Whether a Task Feels ‘Easy’ or ‘Hard’ May Be Due to Dopamine

Why do physical efforts feel “easy” to some and exhausting to others? It may come down to the brain chemical dopamine (and why that matters).

Posted in Engagement, Motivation, Neuroscience

Stressed at School? Kids Cope Better With Exercise

Stressed at School? Kids Cope Better With Exercise

From positive associations to preventing the release of too much cortisol, learn how daily exercise boosts resiliency in kids.
Posted in Health & Wellness, Motivation, Movement & Exercise, Neuroscience, Social Development

Want to Increase Resiliency in Kids? Teach Creativity

Want to Increase Resiliency in Kids? Teach Creativity

Kids imagine themselves as different characters it builds creativity which can make them more resilient.
Posted in Education, Engagement, Health & Wellness, Motivation, Neuroscience, Social Development, Social Skills

Mind-Body Connection is Built into Brain

Mind-Body Connection is Built into Brain

The mind-body connection is designed to help us learn and remember, and to use what we know as tools for new learning and problem-solving.
Posted in Engagement, Health & Wellness, Motivation, Neuroscience

How to Outsmart Dopamine and Limit Your Kids' Screen Time

How to Outsmart Dopamine and Limit Your Kids' Screen Time

A better understanding of what's going on in kids' brains while they're streaming and scrolling offers powerful insights into how parents can better manage and limit these activities.
Posted in Motivation, Neuroscience, Technology

No Magic Number for Time It Takes to Form Habits

No Magic Number for Time It Takes to Form Habits

"You may have heard that it takes about 21 days to form a habit, but that estimate was not based on any science."
Posted in Engagement, Motivation, Neuroscience

Robot Helps Students with Learning Disabilities Stay Focused

Robot Helps Students with Learning Disabilities Stay Focused

Engineering researchers are successfully using a robot to help keep children with learning disabilities focused on their work.
Posted in Attention, Education, Engagement, Motivation, Neuroscience, Technology

The Way We Learn From Mistakes Can Lead to Anxiety

The Way We Learn From Mistakes Can Lead to Anxiety

Student expectations of exam grades reveal which individuals have an optimistic or pessimistic outlook, and why that matters.
Posted in Education, Motivation, Neuroscience, Social Development

How Too Much Motivation Can Affect Decision Making

How Too Much Motivation Can Affect Decision Making

Researchers reveal why a level of motivation that is too high or too low can affect our perception and therefore our choices.
Posted in Attention, Education, Engagement, Motivation, Neuroscience

Teaching Self Regulation: Is Earlier Better?

Teaching Self Regulation: Is Earlier Better?

Researchers explore the long-term effects of teaching self-regulation skills in young students.
Posted in Attention, Education, Motivation, Neuroscience

A Boost to Executive Function in Early Childhood

A Boost to Executive Function in Early Childhood

Researchers explore whether adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for diet and physical activity had any relationship with toddlers’ executive function.

Posted in Attention, Motivation, Movement & Exercise, Neuroscience, Social Development

Learning to Enjoy Cognitive Effort

Learning to Enjoy Cognitive Effort

Researchers challenge a common assumption and find that challenging cognitive activities can be experienced as rewarding and valuable.
Posted in Education, Engagement, Motivation, Neuroscience