Motivation and emotion/Book/2013/Emotion and learning

Emotion and learning:
What role does emotion play in learning?

Overview

This book chapter will focus on the role emotions plays in learning.

Focus questions What is learning? How does the human brain learn? What are the different types of learning? What are emotions? What role does emotion play in learning?

Definition of learning

Learning is the acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or being taught (SOURCE).

How does the human brain learn?

Intro here.

"I am always ready to learn; but I do not always like being taught" ～ Winston Churchill

The limbic system

Figure 1. The limbic system

The limbic system as shown in figure 1 is located in the centre of the brain.

The limbic system interprets the signals of the body to regulate emotions and behaviour.

As displayed in figure 1, the olfactory bulb, papahippocampal gyrus, cingulate gyrus and amygdala are critical areas in the development of emotion and are also areas utilised in learning new information and memory recovery.

Different types of learning

There are many different types of learning, with different psychological theories and approaches.

"School has taught me not only how to learn in the classroom, but outside the classroom as well. Where do you think I learned how to climb, swing and skip? Where do you think I learned how to meet my best friend?" ～ Jessie Braun

Classical conditioning

Here.

Associative learning

Here.

"Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God, do you learn." ～ C.S. Lewis

Behavioural learning

Here.

Operant conditioning

Here.

Observational learning

Here.

What are emotions?

Emotion is a strong feeling deriving from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others (SOURCE).

What role does emotion play in learning?

Here.

Conclusion

Here.

See also

Here.

References

Bandura, A. (1969). Social-learning theory of identificatory processes.Handbook of socialization theory and research, 213, 262.

Cardinal, R. N., Parkinson, J. A., Hall, J., & Everitt, B. J. (2002). Emotion and motivation: the role of the amygdala, ventral striatum, and prefrontal cortex. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 26(3), 321-352.

Clark, J. C., & Groves, S. (2012).Teaching primary science: emotions, identity and the use of practical activities. The Australian Educational Researcher, 39(4), 463-475.

Gwen C. Marchand, Antonio P. Gutierrez. (2012) The role of emotion in the learning process: Comparisons between online and face-to-face learning settings, The Internet and Higher Education, 15(3), June 2012, 150-160.

Hu, H., Real, E., Takamiya, K., Kang, M. G., Ledoux, J., Huganir, R. L., & Malinow, R. (2007). Emotion enhances learning via norepinephrine regulation of AMPA-receptor trafficking. Cell, 131(1), 160-173.

Kay, R. H., & Loverock, S. (2008). Assessing emotions related to learning new software: The computer emotion scale. Computers in Human Behavior, 24(4), 1605-1623.

Killcross, S., & Place, P. (2000).The amygdala, emotion and learning. PSYCHOLOGIST-LEICESTER-, 13(10), 502-507.

Laviolette, S. R., Lipski, W. J., & Grace, A. A. (2005). A subpopulation of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex encodes emotional learning with burst and frequency codes through a dopamine D4 receptor-dependent basolateral amygdala input. The Journal of neuroscience, 25(26), 6066-6075.

Pekrun, R., Goetz, T., Frenzel, A. C., Barchfeld, P., & Perry, R. P. (2011). Measuring emotions in students’ learning and performance: The Achievement Emotions Questionnaire (AEQ). Contemporary Educational Psychology, 36(1), 36-48.

Phelps,E.A. (2004) Human emotion and memory: interactions of the amygdala and hippocampal complexCurrent Opinion in Neurobiology, Volume 14, Issue 2, April 2004, Pages 198-202.

Rotter, J. B. (1954). Social Learning and clinical psychology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentic Hall.

External links

Classical Conditioning- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9hBfnXACsOI
Operant Conditioning- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSxJw0BFZs

Center for Development and Learning