1. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, Ed.D University of Southern California Neuroscientist –learning –creativity –culture –morality Role of Emotion in CognitionRole of Emotion in Cognition

2. Two Brain Systems Mutually Exclusive Default Mode (DM) or Intrinsic Network aka “Looking In” Extrinsic Network aka “Looking Out”  Daydreaming/Rest  Reflection  Off-line consolidation  Meditation  Abstract Moral Social Emotions  Thinking about ONESELF  External Attention  Goal Directed  Concentration on a task  Social Media  Concrete, Physical World

3. Default Mode (DM) Network

4. Brain System PAIN-based emotions REWARD- based emotions Social Emotions About other People’s Minds Default Mode Intrinsic or Default Mode Network Compassion for Social Pain Admiration for Virtue Primary Emotions About other People’s Bodies Extrinsic Extrinsic Network Compassion for Physical Pain Admiration for Skill

5. Posteromedial Cortices (PMC) of the Parietal Lobe (pink)  Introspective Admiration for Virtue & Compassion for Social Pain (AV/CSP, blue → green) Admiration for Skill & Compassion for Physical Pain (AS/CPP, orange → yellow). Immordino-Yang M H et al. PNAS 2009;106:8021-8026 ©2009 by National Academy of Sciences

6. A Better Brain measured by: DM (Looking In)Looking OutThe Efficiency with which Brain toggles between DM (Looking In) and Looking Out DMThe Strength of connectivity between DM regions during “Rest” DM –Stronger DM connectivity (cross-talk) correlated with Higher IQ –Posses better cognitive abilities for making connections between disparate pieces of information

7. Reflective Pause Activates DM  Access to Moral Emotions DMPauses are a behavioral manifestation of DM neural activity The more a subject reflectively paused –The more cognitively abstract & complex answers DM –The more DM activity they showed in the scanner when recalling moral emotions DM –The stronger over DM activity was during rest

8. Emotions Interrupted DM social, moral emotionsThe DM is the pathway through which the brain processes social, moral emotions DMHowever, DM is only active when “Looking In” Highly vulnerable to disruption from environmental distraction—such as: –Educational goals that consistently impose high attention demands –Constant contact with Technology/Phones Result  Young brains stuck in the Concrete!

9. Can Too Much Texting Make Teens Shallow? Paul Trapnell, PhD, of the University of Winnipeg Study: Young People Who Text Frequently Focus on Wealth, Image; Less on Moral, Spiritual Goals

10. 2,300 college students Ages 18 to 22. Texting Data collected 2007 – 2011 (Not clear if texting causes the shallows or if Shallows just text more) High Levels of Texting were:High Levels of Texting were: Positively Positively correlated with Negatively Negatively correlated with  Out group prejudice  Materialism  Indigenous groups’ rights  Moral reflectiveness  Motivation to promote social equality  Perceived importance of living with integrity

11. The Marshmallow Test The Marshmallow Test – YouTubeThe Marshmallow Test – YouTube Distraction/Avoidance strategy worked relatively well at resisting constructive internal reflection delayed the longest!But children who imagined future possibilities (constructive internal reflection)—ie: how good the 2 nd marshmallow would taste, delayed the longest!

12. Cultivate “Looking In” Healthy Psychological development requires opportunities and skills for “Looking In” Frame learning environments to teach and practice internal, self-directed processing –HS students who journaled before a test about their beliefs about their test performance scored significantly higher

13. Let the Children Play Inadequate opportunity for children to play & adolescents to reflect quietly and daydream may have negative consequences— –for social-emotional well-being –for ability to attend to tasks.

14. Wisdom Reason + Compassion Dalai Lama Reflects on CompassionDalai Lama Reflects on Compassion Skilled learner uses these two networks appropriately Moves between them with ease Brain toggle skills include: –Gaze aversion –Pause, slowed speech –Closed eyes