Learning more in less time. That seems to be the leitmotif of our era. And no wonder, given that in a world moving at full speed, the knowledge and skills that were useful yesterday are obsolete today. When job demands are constantly changing and the pace of professional development is relentless, it is necessary to optimize the learning process.
As a result, condensed courses have proliferated, such as the nursing accelerated programs at Elmhurst University, which help students earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in just 16 months. Or dual-degree programs that eliminate duplicate courses and concentrate the training process, saving at least a year.
These study programs are usually more demanding, but the good news is that you don’t have to be a genius to learn everything you need and reach the finish line with a diploma in hand. Our brains are highly dynamic, so we can take advantage of their natural mechanisms to learn faster with less effort.
How does the brain learn?
Every new learning experience, whether it’s a mathematical formula, a word in another language, or a protocol for treating an illness, begins the same way: with a connection between neurons. At first, that connection is weak, like a freshly laid path in the sand. But with practice, repetition, and rest, those synapses strengthen until they form more stable and long-lasting networks.
This process is known as synaptic consolidation and has two main phases: an active one, when we acquire the information, and a quieter but crucial one, when the brain refines, reorganizes, and consolidates it.
Furthermore, our brain has a superpower: neuronal plasticity. This is the nervous system’s ability to modify itself based on experience. Not only are new synapses created, but the shape, strength, and effectiveness of existing connections also change. It’s as if, with each learning process, the brain is slightly reshaped to become more efficient.
This plasticity has no age limit, as although it decreases with age, it remains active throughout life. Neuroscience has shown that even in adults, new neurons are generated in the hippocampus, a key region for memory and orientation, a phenomenon known as neurogenesis.
Last but not least, it is essential to know that the brain learns best when the information has personal meaning or an emotional impact. Content that is relevant, interesting, or related to previous experiences tends to activate broader neural networks, including areas associated with emotion and motivation, such as the amygdala and the dopaminergic circuit.
This level of activation strengthens synapses and facilitates consolidation, so that memories are not only stored, but also integrated more deeply and lastingly. Therefore, relating what is learned to personal goals, experiences, or positive emotions increases the effectiveness of learning, especially when we have limited time.
Neurohabits that promote learning
Taking advantage of the brain’s natural rhythm and functioning isn’t as difficult as it seems, and it can make the difference between studying hard without achieving good results and truly learning.
1. Rest and deep sleep
When exam season approaches, students want to make the most of their time, often sacrificing sleep. However, this is a huge mistake because during deep sleep, the brain consolidates recent memories, reorganizes information, and eliminates neuronal “noise.”
In this sense, a study published in the journal Science showed that sleeping after a study session strengthens synaptic connections and, therefore, improves long-term information retention. Therefore, remember that a sleepless night can be more detrimental than an hour less of studying.
2. Practice the spaced repetition
When a content or subject matter is difficult for us, we usually review it over and over again. However, this strategy is not usually as effective as spaced review, which involves reviewing information over increasingly longer periods of time.
The brain forgets predictably, so we can take advantage of this partial forgetting to strengthen our memory. When we let a certain amount of time pass, we force the brain to “reconstruct” the information, which consolidates it in our memory with greater detail. For this reason, reviewing for an hour a day for a week is more effective than cramming all the content into five hours of study.
3. Schedule short bouts of concentration
To learn, you must first concentrate. The bad news is that our brains are not designed to maintain sustained attention for hours on end. We can do it, but the results are disappointing.
Concentration works best in short blocks followed by short breaks. Studying for about 25 minutes, resting for 5 minutes, and repeating the cycle allows the mind to recover and process information more efficiently. In fact, these short cycles not only reduce cognitive fatigue, they also maintain motivation.
4. Visualize what you’ve learned
Although there are different learning styles, as a rule, the brain best remembers what it can see, imagine, or connect sensorially. This is because visualization activates different brain areas, not only those related to language, but also to perception, which favors richer and more lasting encoding.
Using diagrams, mind maps, or associative images also allows you to turn abstract concepts into concrete mental representations. And then you’re more likely to be able to recall those images you’ve created, even under pressure. In fact, an experiment conducted at Plymouth University revealed that one week later, students who used concept maps recalled between 10 and 15% more information than those who used traditional study techniques.
5. Create meaningful connections
No matter how much you review, repeat, underline, or reread, if you really want to retain information, you need to integrate it into the content you’ve already assimilated. And this is achieved by creating meaningful connections at the brain level.
When you manage to link new content with content you’ve already mastered, you create new neural connections. The interesting thing is that you can later retrieve that information by “pulling the thread” of the consolidated information. Therefore, if you have to learn the symptoms or treatment of a new disease, try to link it to something you already know.
In short, true accelerated learning isn’t about studying more, but about studying better. Understanding the brain’s cognitive and physiological processes allows us to follow its natural rhythm rather than forcing it. Educational programs can compress time, but only understanding how our minds work can “compress” effort.
References::
Yang, G. et. Al. (2014) Sleep promotes branch-specific formation of dendritic spines after learning. Science; 344(6188): 1173-1178.
Schuetze, U. (2014) Spacing techniques in second language vocabulary acquisition: Short-term gains vs. long-term memory. Language Teaching Research; 19(1): 28-42.
Ballester, A.(2014) Meaningful Learning in Practice. Journal of Education and Human Development; 3(4): 199-209.
Farrand, P. et. Al. (2002) The efficacy of the “mind map” study technique. Medical Education; 36(5): 426-431.
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