Neuroplastic Learning

Human learning is mapped in neural physiology. Repetitive learning grows or renews synaptic pathways in the brain. Stimulating this growth helps people recover from neural damage. Vigorous learning of new habits must divert traffic from neural pathways of old ones. Takes time.

Neuroplasticity is a descriptor for an understanding of brain function that has been developing since the discovery of electrical synapses in neurons. That led to an incorrect assumption that brains must function somewhat like digital computers, which prevailed for decades.

Anyone can Google neuroplasticity and start digging into the basics. Electrical synapses of neurons are the core of brain function, but strongly influenced by glia, which carry energy to neurons and play a role in activating them. Adrenaline pumps energy signals to the brain, activating glia, so learning is not coldly detached from emotion. One intense experience leaves a stronger neural linkage than hundreds of dull experiences -- which explains a lot problems with classroom learning. 

How can learning at work, or design of organizational learning systems take this into account and take advantage of it? 

Workshop instructors instinctively sense this. Engage people; jolt them with questions, surprises, games, and challenges. 

But to make learning itself habitual, emotion has to consistently reinforce it, creating neural learning pathways. Therefore, a vigorous learning organization has to develop learning at work into an emotional experience -- for both "negative as well as positive findings," and broad as well as deep.  
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