Environmental and Chemical Factors

Presentation

ANNAMARIE NELSON
EDU417-COGNITIVE STUDIES CAPSTONE
PROFESSOR KENNETH CARON
AUGUST 19, 2018
Welcome !

How can environmental and neurochemical factors impact behavior in our classrooms? Throughout this

presentation we will get to know how the relationship between neurotransmitters such as; dopamine, serotonin,

and acetylcholine affect learning and memory. I will also cover how movement, sleep, nutrition and

technology factor in learning and neuroplasticity, as well as the relationship between neurochemical and

environmental factors affect on learning in the classroom. I feel that it is equally important that parents and

educators receive information that will help with understanding how we implement these factors into classroom

learning so your students can be successful at home.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC

BY-NC-ND
Relationship between various
neurotransmitters and learning and memory.

❖ Neurotransmitters are “chemicals that are

released by neurons that come across the
synapse and allows communication
between neurons” (Wolfe, 2010, pp.228).
❖ Some examples of neurotransmitters that
you may of hear of are; dopamine,
serotonin, and acetylcholine.
❖ These neurotransmitters aid in the control of
cognitive activity that can help or hinder
your students academic and/or behavior in
the classroom.
❖ Two of the biggest factors that can affect
these neurotransmitters are environmental or
neurochemical. An environmental factor
can be emotional development, nutritional
development or even sleep deprivation or
exercise. Neurochemical issues are those This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under
that are not firing right due to problems with CC BY
the nervous system due to the lack of or too
many neurotransmitters (Wolfe, 2010).
Dopamine
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that is uniquely involved in
learning, attention, movement and reinforcement (Wood et al, 2006,
pp 42). There are two major functions of this neurotransmitter; to
control the student’s conscience motor activity and enhance the
gratifying feeling in the cognitive reward system (Wolfe, 2010).
This neurotransmitter is directly related to learning and memory
because it provides a student the ability to focus and concentrate,
which can lead to behavior issues in the classroom. Dopamine is
also related to reactive behavior and when this naturally produced
stimulant is not balanced the student often times can have
uncontrollable behavior (Wood et al, 2006). If this natural
neurotransmitter is off balance, it may be the students nutritional
needs not being met. Tyrosine, an amino acid which is in protein is
used to process dopamine and can quite possible cause an
imbalance of dopamine (Wolfe, 2010). One of the drugs that helps
regulate dopamine is phenylalanine which is an amino
acid(webmd.com).
Serotonin
According to text (2010), serotonin is known as the “feel good” drug
(Wolfe,2010, pp 61). Serotonin affects a person’s mood by being sedative
rather than stimulating on the brain. Most who have neurological disorders
such as depression, anxiety or sleep issues can benefit from taking serotonin
to create a balance in mood (Wolfe, 2010). Serotonin helps create a change
in emotional experiences and is involved in improving memory and
learning when the neurons in the brain do not fire correctly, strengthening
synaptic connections (Morris &Maisto, 2016). Serotonin is directly
involved in the regulation of sleep, dreaming, mood, eating (overeating),
pain and aggressive behavior associated in depression (Morris and Maisto,
2016). Eating a balanced diet and regular exercise can help aid in serotonin
balance. Controlling the students serotonin levels will create a desired result
for classroom behavior, learning and memory. Medications that can help
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with serotonin levels are Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs); like BY

Prozac and Zoloft, which prevent the breakdown of monoamine

neurotransmitters (to include serotonin) and increase concentration and
memory (Morris and Maisto, 2016). Students who have these neurological
misfires have trouble regulating emotions and control, which hinders
learning.
Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter that is circulated
throughout the central nervous system and is responsible for
attention, memory, motivation and movement. This
neurotransmitter also intersects with muscular cells to help with
movement and too much of Acetylcholine can cause spasms and
tremors (Morris and Maisto, 2016). Due to the neurotransmitter
being directly related to movement, it enhances rapid eye
movement sleep (REM) and also has been shown in affecting our
memory circuits as well. Ach originates in the area right above the
brain stem but has been seen in many other areas of the brain
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
(Wolfe, 2010). The breakdown of ACh has been proven to be linked
in many cases of Autism and cause for disturbed sleep and rest.
“Properties of Up and Down states during slow wave sleep arise in
ACh-modulated laminar cortical ART circuits that carry out
processes in awake individuals of contrast normalization,
attentional modulation, decision-making, activity-dependent
habituation, and mismatch-mediated reset” (Grossberg, 2017, para
1). This is a prime concern for the student in relation to classroom
behavior, attention and all around educational concerns.
Neurochemical and Environmental Factors in
Learning and Neuroplasticity.
There are many factors associated with learning and neuroplasticity,
some of which we will discuss are; movement, sleep, nutrition, and
technology. These neurochemical and environmental factors can be
supported in or out of the classroom with help of educators and
support staff. The student’s environment can also be a major factor
if the neurochemical balance is misfiring and there must be avenues
to help support both changes in respect to learning as well as
memory (Wolfe, 2010). This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC
BY-NC
 Affects of Exercise on Memory and
Neuroplasticity.
Exercise creates an increased intake of oxygen to the brain which
allows for more blood to be pumped into vital organs including
the heart. A second benefit of exercise would be the release of
protein which helps motivate neural growth and development of
learning. Research has also proven, the more the student gets up
and moves, the better their overall academic scores have been
(Wolfe, 2010). Although schools have discarded physical
education to make way for technological advances in the
classroom, educators must provide academic breaks to encourage
the students to get up and move. It is important that parents and
This Photo by Unknown Author is
educators come together in this initiative to prevent a students licensed under CC BY-SA
brain from becoming inactive due to lack of physical activity. A
way that we implement this initiative in high schools is to take
what text calls “brain brakes” (Wolfe, 2010, pp 95). It is easier in
elementary schools than in high schools due to the students
rigorous schedules. Let’s continue this to prevent a sleepy mind!
Affects of Sleep on Memory and
Neuroplasticity.

We have always been told that we need eight to ten hours of

sleep each night to be rested and refreshed the next day,
well according to research, the brain does everything but
rest when we sleep. Many things happen when we sleep,
several have major affects upon memory and learning. You
would be surprised what happens in that short amount of
sleep you receive each night. One of the most important is
the processing of memory trace from short-term to long-
term memory (Wolfe, 2010). It is also proven that the
hippocampus and neo-cortex communicate to ensure
information learned is retained during sleep. However,
when students do not get the right amount of sleep, it shows
in their sluggish behavior and lack of memory when
studying for tests. I have tested this theory being in the
military and going without sleep for more than 24 hours,
how it affects my memory on simple things like
remembering something someone told me five minutes ago,
so imagine what it does to our children when sleep and This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
neural misfiring happen.
Affects of Nutrition on Memory and
Neuroplasticity.

You have always been told, you are what you eat and I never fully
understand what that meant until I started researching what I was
consuming. Take fish for example, it has always been called “brain
food” and for good reason. Fish, eggs and meats contain omega-3
fatty acids, important for brain development and hormone balance
(Wolfe, 2010). Good health and nutrition starts in utero with a
mothers diet and according to research, poor nutrition during
pregnancy can lead to cognitive problems, including behavioral and
mental retardation (Wolfe, 2010). Good nutritional habits are an
important environmental factor in memory and learning. Students
who received a nutritional breakfast were looked at as having better
test scores and even academic/behavioral performance. So let’s put
on our thinking caps and start consuming some brain foods.
Educators also should be promoting healthier eating and instead of
glorifying candy and cakes; make learning about food fun!

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Affects of Technology on Memory and
Neuroplasticity.

Technology can provide an avenue for a student who carries a

visual/spatial intelligence can draw many positive cognitive
functions from computer generated reading material and integrating
intellectual or educational games (Wolfe, 2010). When you have a
learner who has issues with auditory/visual processing, short-term or
long-term memory issues or thinking and reasoning disabilities,
technology can be very stimulating to the brain when a student is
engaged. However, monitoring these varied technological devices in
the students school and home environment can allow for the right
balance of cognitive and physical interaction. This can be
challenging for parents who see technology as a way for their
children to be engaged, however, having too much interaction with
certain technology can have a negative response, such as behavioral
or emotional issues. These issues can resonate into their classroom
instruction and pose problems for educators and other students
(Wolfe, 2010).
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Thank you for joining us!

Environmental and Neurochemical factors along with learning and

neuroplasticity can change how a student can be challenged in the
classroom. Taking the time to learn about these factors and how they
affect behavior and learning can allow educators to challenge
students to work at levels that promote brain function and decrease
behavioral issues. Sometimes it is all about how well you know your
students and what type of educational support they require. I hope
this presentation gave you some incite to what goes on in that
wonderful mind of theirs. If you have any questions or need a copy
of this presentations please contact me.
Anna Nelson @456-555-1216

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 References
Grossberg, S., Frontiers In Neural Circuits [Front Neural Circuits] 2017 Nov 02; Vol. 11, pp. 82. Date of Electronic
Publication: 20171102 (Print Publication: 2017).

Morris, C. G., & Maisto, A. A. (2016). UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY (11th ed.). Boston, MA: PEARSON.

Wolfe, P. (2010). Brain matters: Translating research into classroom practice. (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Association for
Supervision & Curriculum Development

Wood, S. E., Wood, E. R., & Boyd, D. R. (2006). Mastering the World of Psychology (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.