Welcome to the Huberman Lab podcast, where science and science-based tools for everyday life are discussed. In this episode, Andrew Huberman, a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine, interviews Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a professor of educational psychology and neuroscience at the University of Southern California. The discussion centers around the role of emotions in learning and how different environments and experiences during childhood shape our understanding of the world and ourselves.
Dr. Immordino-Yang’s research focuses on emotions and their role in Learning and memory. She argues that emotions cannot be separated from cognition and that understanding the intersection is crucial for effective Learning. She believes that educators should incorporate more emotional content into their teaching and encourage students to reflect on their emotions and connect to their learning experiences.
One concept discussed in the podcast is the importance of inspiration and Awe. Dr. Immordino-Yang posits that these emotions, although often considered high-level, are fundamental to how we learn and experience life. When we are inspired, our brains release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. This can lead to increased focus and a desire to learn and explore. On the other hand, Awe can lead to a sense of interconnectedness and a feeling of being part of something larger than ourselves. Both emotions can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the learned material.
The conversation then moved to the role of the education system in shaping how we learn and develop a sense of self. Dr. Immordino-Yang emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for students to learn. She argues that schools should prioritize relationship-building and understanding each student’s strengths and needs. She also highlights the need for a shift in evaluating students, moving away from standardized tests and towards a more holistic approach that considers emotional and social factors.
Huberman and Dr. Immordino-Yang also discuss how different learning styles and environments can impact students’ ability to learn effectively. Dr. Immordino-Yang notes that some students thrive in more traditional classroom settings, while others may benefit from non-traditional forms of Learning, such as project-based or experiential Learning. Understanding one’s learning style and preferences is crucial for effective Learning. She also notes that emotional states guide Learning and that students should be encouraged to reflect on their emotions and how they influence their learning experiences.
The podcast ends with discussing the practical tools that listeners can use to enhance their learning experiences. Dr. Immordino-Yang recommends journaling, meditation, and reflection on one’s emotional responses to learning to improve learning outcomes.
Overall, the podcast provides a fascinating look at the intersection of emotions and Learning and how our childhood experiences shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. It offers practical tips and insights for educators and students, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive and emotionally-safe learning environment.
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Summary of Transcript:
In this episode of the Huberman Lab podcast, host Andrew Huberman interviews Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, an Education Psychology and Neuroscience professor at the University of Southern California. They discuss how our temperament and emotional experiences, combined with our home and school environments, shape our concepts of self and what we know about the world. They also talk about how different styles of Learning favor different people, how dynamic systems can guide what we learn, and how we apply that knowledge throughout life. The podcast is sponsored by Eight Sleep, HVMN Ketone IQ, and Roca.
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Summary of Description:
Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang from the University of Southern California explains how an understanding of emotions can be leveraged to improve learning in children and adults in a Huberman Lab podcast. She discusses the importance of including new forms of exploration in the education system to facilitate better Learning and more diverse learning and teaching styles. The podcast covers human development, education, psychology, and neuroscience in children and adults. Dr. Immordino-Yang’s research focuses on emotions, self-awareness, and social interactions and how these impact how we learn and change throughout our lifespan.
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Source Description
In this episode, my guest is Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, EdD, professor of education, psychology, and neuroscience at the University of Southern California and director of the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning, and Education, who has done groundbreaking research on emotions, self-awareness, and social interactions and how these impact the way we learn and change across our lifespan. She explains how understanding emotions can improve Learning in children and adults. The education system should be altered to include new forms of exploration, facilitate better Learning, and include more diverse learning (and teaching) styles. This episode should interest anyone interested in how we learn and human development in children and adults and those generally interested in education, psychology, or neuroscience.
#HubermanLab #Science #Learning
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Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang
USC Academic Profile: https://rossier.usc.edu/faculty-research/directory/maryhelen-immordinoyang USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning, and Education: https://candle.usc.edu
Emotions, Learning, and the Brain (Book): https://a.co/d/fgsEUjG
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candle79
TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RViuTHBIOq8
Twitter: https://twitter.com/candleusc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhelen-immordinoyang
Articles
Neural correlates of admiration and compassion: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.0810363106?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed
Decoding the neural representation of story meanings across languages: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hbm.23814
Default and executive networks’ roles in diverse adolescents’ emotionally engaged construals of complex social issues: https://academic.oup.com/scan/article/17/4/421/6378602?login=false
Cultural differences in the neural correlates of social-emotional feelings: an interdisciplinary, developmental perspective: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352250X16302068?via%3Dihub
Building Meaning Builds Teens’ Brains: https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/building-meaning-builds-teens-brains
How People Learn II: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/24783/how-people-learn-ii-learners-contexts-and-cultures
The Smoke Around Mirror Neurons: Goals as Sociocultural and Emotional Organizers of Perception and Action in Learning: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1751-228X.2008.00034.x
Diverse Adolescents’ Transcendent Thinking Predicts Young Adult Psychosocial Outcomes via Brain Network Development: https://psyarxiv.com/cj6an
Sages and Seekers: The development of diverse adolescents’ transcendent thinking and purpose through an intergenerational storytelling program: https://psyarxiv.com/5e4bu
Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang
00:02:11 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, HVMN, ROKA
00:05:54 Inspiration, Awe & Story
00:09:59 Brain-Body, Narratives
00:15:58 Emotions, Durability & Lifespan
00:21:47 Conjuring Stories, Historical Context & Emotion
00:32:16 Sponsor: AG1
00:33:30 Hierarchal Emotion Organization, Default Mode Network, Story & Emotion
00:46:24 Emotional Development & Lifetime
00:57:13 Narrative & Genocide; Checking Assumptions & Mental Flexibility
01:05:22 Social Media, Cognitive Dissonance
01:09:52 Education, Deconstructing Beliefs & Curiosity
01:17:22 Sponsor: InsideTracker
01:18:32 Emotion & Learning; Constructing Meaning
01:28:59 Good Teachers & Curiosity
01:33:25 Inter-disciplinary Education; Development & Culture
01:50:58 Idea Exploration, Tolerance
01:56:53 Reframing Education, Deconstructing Assumptions
02:03:28 Safety, Creativity & Default Mode Network
02:12:15 Civic Discourse & Education; Deconstructing Ideas
02:27:31 “Mirror” Neurons, Shared Social Experiences
02:35:49 Cold Exposure & Sickness; Role of Education
02:38:51 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac – https://www.blabacphoto.com
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