Presentation for

Parents
Cynthia Tomei
EDU417: Cognitive Studies Capstone
JoannaSavarese-Levine, PhD.
April 18, 2015

Neurotransmitters
Chemicals help neurons communicate.
Stored in axons.
Synapse.

Distinguished by three factors.

Will specifically address:
Dopamine.
Serotonin.
Acetylcholine.

Dopamine
Controls conscious motor movement.
Enhances good feelings.
Effects based on various factors.
Unbalanced dopamine issues.
For a quick video click here.

Serotonin
Well known as making people feel good.
Calms rather than stimulates.
Affects memory, sleep, and body temperature

regulation.
Used to treat some disorders.

Acetylcholine
Excitatory.
Enhances REM.
Involved in memory.
Operates all voluntary and involuntary

muscles.

Environmental factors - movement

Increased oxygen flow.
More blood pumped to the brain.
Release of protein.
Positive affect on emotional/physical well-being.
Neurogenesis.
Brain Breaks.

Sleep
Consolidation occurs.
REM
Non-REM

Brain continues working.

Off-line processing and memory.
Restores the body so the mind is free to learn.
Interesting video clip on how sleep affects the brain, click here.

Nutrition
Brain development.
Brain function.
Quality not quantity.
Right things.
Too much of the right things.

Produce neurotransmitters.
Protect DNA and brain cells.

Technology
Many factors on exposure.
Content and duration.
Age of child/parental oversight.
Context and structure.
Structure of the game.

Positive software.
Fast Forward.
BrainWare Safari.

Other Environmental Factors

Stress
Highly harmful.
Extended exposure causes neurological damage.

Poverty.
Can become a cycle.
Causes poorer health care.

Dual factors
Stress because of poverty.
Poor nutrition because of poverty.

Conclusion
There are many factors that can help or harm the
neurological process of learning and memory. Not
only is the chemical make-up of the brain a factor,
but so are a multitude of environmental factors.
As a parent, get involved and ask questions. Teachers,
principals, doctors and more are available to answer
questions and help you if and when help is needed.
The children are the future of society, let us care for
them and nourish their learning experience.

References
Acetylcholine. (2014). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 1p. 1.
Chara, P. J. (2014). Neurotransmitters. Salem Press Encyclopedia Of Health,
Dnews. (2013, October 17). Why your brain needs sleep. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o2yyO0JAes
Dopamine. (2014). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 1p. 1.
Fischer , K. W., Immordino-Yang, M. H., & , (2008). The jossey-bass reader on

the brain

and learning. (1st ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Kremers, K. (2014, June 7). The neuroscience of learning: dopamine.

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9s6Wg1xMY

References
Mega, C., Ronconi, L., & De Beni, R. (2014). What makes a good student? How

emotions, self-regulated learning, and motivation contribute to academic

achievement.

Journal Of Educational Psychology, 106(1), 121-131.

doi:10.1037/a0033546
Seyedabadi, M., Fakhfouri, G., Ramezani, V., Mehr, S. E., & Rahimian, R. (2014). The

role of serotonin in memory: Interactions with neurotransmitters and downstream

signaling. Experimental Brain Research, 232(3), 723-38. d
oi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221-013-3818-4
Wolfe, P. (2010). Brain matters: Translating research into classroom practice. (2nd

ed.). Alexandria,VA: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.