Learning, Cognition, and Educational Innovation

Topics include: cognitive control, learning processes, imagination, interdisciplinary education, technology in education, and educational advancement through neuroscience.

No Evidence That Testosterone Reduces Cognitive Empathy

A close-up of a smiling couple facing each other with an affectionate gaze. Both wear watches, and one wears large earrings.

A comprehensive analysis led by Gideon Nave from the Wharton School challenges previous assumptions linking testosterone to reduced cognitive empathy, a trait impaired in autism, by conducting large-scale studies that found no causal relationship. This research contests the ‘extreme male brain’ hypothesis and encourages further investigation into autism’s origins without simplifying it to testosterone effects.…Read More

Researchers Detect Brain Difference Between Fast and Slow Learners

Visualization of the human brain's neural pathways with colorful fiber tracts, highlighting connections in orange and yellow on a black background.

Researchers at the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Max Planck Institute are investigating the brain activation patterns that influence the speed of learning, comparing how cognitive control might slow down the learning process. Their study, published in Nature Neuroscience and led by Danielle Bassett and Evelyn Tang, explores how geometric patterns of brain activity can impact learning outcomes.…Read More

How this Doctoral Student is Exploring the Nexus Between Business and Brain Science

A person sitting at a desk with a computer displaying brain scan images and data, wearing glasses and a brown blazer.

The Wharton Neuroscience Initiative explores the intersection of neuroscience and business, particularly how the brain influences consumer choices and management strategies. Arthur Lee, a graduate student at Wharton, is at the forefront of this research, studying neural circuits to predict decision-making and collaborating with leading scholars like Michael Platt to integrate neuroscience into business applications.…Read More

What Your Facebook Network Reveals About How You Use Your Brain

Digital representation of a brain with gears inside, surrounded by floating circular images of people, symbolizing artificial intelligence and data integration.

The article discusses the impact of social network structures on problem-solving and brain activity, noting that individuals who serve as ‘information brokers’ in their networks tend to be better problem solvers and use their social brain networks more effectively. Research suggests that the capacity to connect different social groups enriches social brain networks and influences decision-making, communication, and ultimately success in various aspects of life.…Read More