An overthinking brain can complicate simple tasks

DESCRIPTION

Researchers Danielle Bassett, Muzhi Yang, and others, scanned the brains of their subjects while they learned to play a simple game.  It was found that those who had most brain activity in certain areas were slower to learn the game.  The authors state, “Comparing the neural activity between the quickest and slowest learners suggests that recruiting unnecessary parts of the brain for a given task—akin to over-thinking the problem—plays a critical role in this difference.”  Further research is being conducted as to why certain areas of the brain that are more often involved in complex learning slow down the learning of a simple task.  The authors see the problem as “akin to overthinking.”

SOURCE

Penn Current, April 9, 2015

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/current/2015-04-09/latest-news/overthinking-brain-can-complicate-simple-tasks?utm_source=Primary&utm_campaign=d6478990b2-Penn_Current_Express_&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3777f2ca8f-d6478990b2-43976897

(shortened URL)   http://tinyurl.com/nudm4hy

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is the relation of brain structure and thinking?
•Which parts of the brain are involved with problem solving?
•What is meant by “neurological correlates of the learning process?”
•When is “overthinking” an advantage?  A disadvantage?