How We Learn: The New Science of Education and the Brain

(Paperback)

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An illuminating dive into the latest science of how we learn - and how we do it better than machines In today's technological society, with an unprecedented amount of information at our fingertips, learning plays a more central role than ever. In How We Learn, Stanislas Dehaene decodes its biological mechanisms, delving into the neuronal, synaptic, and molecular processes taking place in the brain. He explains why youth is such a sensitive period, but also assures us that we can enhance our learning and memory at any age. We can all "learn to learn" by taking advantage of the four pillars of the brain's learning algorithm- attention, active engagement, error feedback, and consolidation. The human brain is an extraordinary machine. Its ability to process information and adapt to circumstances is unparalleled, and it remains the best source of inspiration for recent developments in artificial intelligence. How We Learn finds the boundary of computer science, neurobiology, and cognitive psychology to explain how to make the best use of the brain's learning algorithms, in our schools and universities as well as in everyday life.

Reviews

This is an absorbing, mind-enlarging book, studded with insights ... Could have significant real-world results. -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *
An entertaining survey of how science from brain scans to psychological tests is helping inspire pedagogy. Dehaene challenges many tropes [and] describes much of his own pioneering work ... Well translated from the French with some touching references to his upbringing, from the cult film La Jete to the writing of Daniel Pennac. -- Andrew Jack * Financial Times *
An expert overview of learning ... Dehaene's fourth insightful exploration of neuroscience will pay dividends for attentive readers. * Kirkus *

Author Bio

Stanislas Dehaene is one of Europe's leading neuroscientists, and has been studying how education changes our brains for over thirty years. He is professor of Experimental Cognitive Psychology at the Coll ge de France, and director of the NeuroSpin brain imaging in Saclay. He is a member of seven academies and has received several international prizes, including the highest award in neuroscience, the Brain Prize. Dehaene's previous books, which have been translated into fifteen languages, include Consciousness and the Brain, Reading in the Brain and The Number Sense.