Desire, dopamine and successful set ups

As we discover more and more about neuroscience and how the brain works, I find myself making more and more connections to learning and training.

For sometime Ally and I have been talking about the importance of really good set-ups in brain friendly learning; whether it’s the pre-programme invitation or the set up for the day ahead or after a break or even when switching topics during a session. Instinctively we have felt  that this is a golden opportunity to enhance our learners experience and ability to learn. This week I discovered some brilliant neuroscience that explains to some extent why a really good set up is so important.

It is all about an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex and a fabulous neurotransmitter called Dopamine.

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter of desire and reward and levels rise whenever we want something. Dopamine levels rise as we become curious or interested and is central to our ability to be open minded.

Dopamine also helps us to hold an idea in our prefrontal cortex

The prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain that does our thinking. It acts as a kind of in tray to determine what is important and what we should be focussed on.

It also has some alarming limitations. For example when we talk about multi-tasking, this is done within the prefrontal cortex and I am sorry to say this but it now seems whether you are male or female we are all rubbish at multitasking because the prefrontal cortex is rubbish at it. If you want to know more read Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long by David Rock. (It was recommended to me by a neuroscientist and it is brilliant)

So, what does this have to do with excellent set-ups?

Well we want our learners to be open minded and curious and we want them to have as active prefrontal cortex as possible so that they can think really clearly and hold on to new thinking.  And we can get this by increasing their levels of dopamine.

We can drive up their levels of dopamine by increasing their curiosity or by creating a sense of desire. It would be fab for example if we could create this kind of thinking:

I’ve just read the invite for this customer services course and I can’t wait to go on it

or…

Just got back from break and I’m really interested in what we are doing already

Driving up dopamine enables the prefrontal cortex to focus more clearly, increases the number of connections the brain can make per second and helps learners to hold on to new ideas.

I have two calls for action this week:

1. Take some time out to bookmark some websites that will keep you up to date with the latest neuroscience.
2. Take another look at your set ups. Are you creating curiosity, desire, interest even? And if not, what are you going to do to boost your learners dopamine? (Their prefrontal cortex will love you for it!)

red neurons image by neurollero
white line image by visualpanic  

Paul and Ally are working on an exciting 6-part (online) course to help your learners fully engage with your training - sign up for the 'early bird' list for advanced notification and more info

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