In 2019, students will be able to double the speed at which they learn using biofeedback devices, which will help detect how well or badly their brain is retaining information they are taking in.
The brain learns by changing connections between neurons, adding new ones, trimming unused ones and making useful ones transmit information more quickly. When the brain is given new information, a set of new neurons fire, and, at the same time, the brain tries to recall similar past knowledge and fire the neurons that were created then.
Since “neurons that fire together, wire together”, new neuronal connections are then formed reinforcing retention. If the stimulus make a deep impression, the new connections are strong and existing connections are made stronger. If not, the connection may be trimmed later and forgotten.
We can now watch this activity in real time. Using a consumer EEG device and machine learning, we can now monitor brainwave data to gauge a range of mental states, including attention and impression levels.
This technology is already being used to help children improve their attention. Glow Master, developed by Hong Kong startup Playto, combines brain-wave sensors with gaming to improve children’s concentration. NeuroPlus, based in North Carolina, is working towards using gaming and brain-wave technology to help children with ADHD build attention and self-control.
My own company, NeuroSky’s approach has been to develop a headset that interfaces with an app called Effective Learner. In the app, different colours and emoticons are used to show how effective a user’s retention is in real time. This is determined not jusy by an attention algorithm, but also by an impression algorithm, which measures how deep an impression the stimuli left on the user. The app tells the user their retention level. If it is high, it will tell them to study more, and if not, it will tell them to rest.
Biofeedback will also be able to help with problems that feel intractable, by conditioning students to make time to think outside the box. Studies show the best way is to deal with a seemingly intractable problem is to consider it intensely for a period of time and then to relax to an almost meditative state to foster the brain’s creative side.
We have trialled technology that can help users manage this approach in Finland, using an app called Study Train that has been designed by Finnish education experts. The app combines the Pomodoro time-management technique with customised learning rhythms based on an individual’s brain waves, telling students to focus when learning efficiency is high and to rest meditatively to promote lateral thinking and creativity when efficiency is low. It is now being used by students in China, Malaysia and Taiwan as well as in Finland and next year will be rolled out further.
We have long known that the brain has good and bad times for retaining information and solving problems. By combining EEG data and machine learning we can now we confident when those different states occur and use that information to improve students’ learning. 2019 will be the year when study becomes turbocharged.
Stanley Yang is CEO of NeuroSky
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This article was originally published by WIRED UK
