Learning How to Learn - Focused and Diffuse Modes (Week 1)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the Focused and Diffuse Modes lecture (Week 1).

Focused mode

A mental state of concentrated attention used to solve problems or understand concepts that align with familiar patterns.

Diffuse mode

A relaxed, broad-thinking state that enables new ideas and wider neural connections, useful for novel problems.

Neural resting states

Brain activity patterns associated with diffuse thinking that allow broad exploration.

Pinball analogy

A teaching metaphor portraying the brain as a pinball machine to illustrate how focused and diffuse thinking work.

Blue bumpers (focused mode)

Tightly spaced neural obstacles representing familiar thought patterns that guide smooth problem solving.

Orange pattern (familiar thought pattern)

A neural pattern representing a known, familiar way of thinking.

New thought pattern

A neural pattern you haven’t thought before, requiring diffuse thinking to develop.

Wide-spaced bumpers (diffuse mode)

Widely spaced neural obstacles that allow broad exploration and formation of new connections.

Big picture perspective

A diffuse-thinking outcome that considers problems from a broad, overall view.

Two thinking modes

The brain alternates between focused and diffuse modes, and cannot access both at once.

Coin analogy

The idea that you flip between focused and diffuse modes like two sides of a coin; only one side is active at a time.

Metaphor and analogy in learning

Using metaphors and analogies to aid understanding and memory.

Memory Palace Technique

A mnemonic method that uses familiar spatial locations to organize and recall information.

Long-term memory

The memory system that stores information for extended periods, supporting recall during problem solving.

Chunking

Grouping related information into units or chunks to reduce cognitive load and improve memory.

Library of Chunks

A growing collection of chunks that can be reused to accelerate learning.

Interleaving

Mixing related topics during practice to improve learning and transfer.

Overlearning

Continuing to study beyond initial mastery to strengthen retention.

Choking

A performance drop under pressure due to anxiety or cognitive overload.

Einstellung

A mental set that can hinder problem solving by fixating on familiar methods.

Focused Mode

A mode of thinking characterized by intense concentration on specific learning material or problems, often following familiar neural pathways.

Diffuse Mode

A relaxed thinking style, related to neural resting states, useful for making broad, big-picture connections and new insights.

Pinball Machine Analogy (for thinking modes)

A metaphor where focused mode is like thoughts traveling along tightly spaced bumpers (familiar neural pathways), and diffuse mode allows thoughts to travel along widely spaced bumpers, forming new connections.

Default Mode Network (DMN)

Brain regions most active during rest states, which contribute to learning and memory formation below conscious awareness.

Synaptic Turnover

The dynamic process where connections between neurons (synapses) constantly change, forming and eliminating, contributing to brain reshaping during learning.

Memory Consolidation

The process by which short-term memories are converted into stable, long-term memories, often aided by sleep.

Role of Sleep in Learning

Essential for clearing metabolic toxins from the brain, consolidating memory, strengthening important neural connections, and rehearsing new material.

Procrastination

The act of avoiding tasks that cause negative feelings, often by switching to more pleasant activities to avoid discomfort.

Pomodoro Technique

A time management method that involves 25 minutes of focused work followed by a short break, designed to sustain motivation and focus.

Working Memory

The part of memory that actively processes information in real time, centered in the prefrontal cortex, with a capacity of approximately four chunks of information.

Long-Term Memory

A vast storage warehouse for information, distributed across various brain regions, which requires repeated retrieval to reinforce and preserve memories.

Spaced Repetition

A learning technique that involves distributing practice and review over several days to improve retention, rather than massing it in one sitting.