Teaching With the Brain in Mind

Teaching with the Brain in Mind
FIGURE 8.3
to us? They are all that we have; they are our feelings,
desires, memories, and motivations. A change
of state is what your students use money for: They
buy food to get out of the hunger state and buy
Nike shoes to feel more confident or to be liked by
classmates. They even buy drugs to change their
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The Chemical Influences on Attention and Behavior
Serotonin Noradrenaline
"the brakes" "the gas pedal"
High-Level Risks High-Level Risks
fearfulness overarousal
obsessive-compulsive rapid pulse
low self-confidence increased likelihood
withheld aggression of impulsive violence
Low-Level Risks Low-Level Risks
depression underarousal
impulsive aggression thrill-seeking
alcoholism risk-taking
explosive rage increased likelihood of
suicide cold-blooded violence
Note: The levels indicated are high or low compared to the norm. Generally, males have 20-40%
lower serotonin levels than females. Human behavior is complex, and there are other influencing
factors besides chemical imbalances.
state, either to feel better or to simply feel something.
Educators need to pay attention to this.
Teachers who help their students feel good about
learning through classroom success, friendships,
and celebrations are doing the very things the student
brain craves.