Science
To read more on any of these topics, click on the drop-down menu under TOPICS.
DIAGNOSING WORKING MEMORY: Unmotivated? Lazy? Or poor working memory? Find out how you can test a student’s working memory.
BRAIN TRAINING: Are we stuck with our working memory? Or can we change the way we remember things? Cutting edge science has led to exciting breakthroughs in brain training. There has been an influx of computer games and programs that promise to train our memory, but do they deliver? One program I have been working with is clinically proven to improve grades for students. Read more.
ADHD: Is every unruly child a potential ADHD case? Is medication the only answer to behavioral problems in the classroom? Learn more about how working memory impacts children with ADHD.
DYSLEXIA: Trouble spelling? Difficulty following conversations? Learn how working memory problems can lead to dyslexia.
DYSPRAXIA: How do motor impairments affect learning? Can exercise make a difference? Read more about how working memory difficulties result in learning problems for those with dyspraxia.
LEARNING DISABILITIES: Do you have a student whose is bright yet always seems to struggle? Do they have to potential yet are at the bottom of the classroom? Read more on how working memory could be holding them back.
GENETICS OF WORKING MEMORY: Do the genes we inherit play a role or is it the home-life that nurtures brain development. I am currently running one of the few scientific studies on identical and fraternal twins to understand the role of family in determining our working memory. Genetics have a strong influence on how our brains work; we inherit our IQ, but do we also inherit our working memory? If you are a parent and a child, click here to: PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY
SPIRAL OF WORKING MEMORY: It may come as a surprise to find out that working memory is linked to aggression. Boys with poor working memory are at greater risk of physical aggression and juvenile delinquency than others. I have been working with juvenile delinquents to learn how their poor working memory may have led them down an increasingly dangerous path of crime. Evidence from my research demonstrates this spiral effect: young boys with poor working memory make criminal choices which damage their working memory (e.g., through alcohol, drugs, etc), which leads to worse decision making and criminal behavior.
TYRANNY OF TECHNOLOGY? Is technology impairing our working memory? From our ever-increasing reliance on word processing to help us improve grammar, Blackberries to remind us of appointments, speed-dial so we don’t have to remember phone numbers and a universe of information available at the click of a mouse. What is the trade-off: what we do give up when we rely on new technology? Are the likes of Twitter and YouTube reducing our ability to engage in everyday life? In fact, the opposite may be true; technology can dramatically improve our working memory. PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY
DIABETES AND WORKING MEMORY: I am looking at the effect of the intrauterine environment that a child of a mother with Type 1 diabetes is exposed to and its impact on the child’s working memory.
WORKING MEMORY ACROSS CULTURES: How does our culture affect the way we learn? I am involved in a range of projects with colleagues in Europe, South America, Asia, and South Africa to understand how culture and working memory interact to impact learning.
If you are interested in working together on a project, please email me.
