How the Brain Learns

By Priscilla Roberts

The “how” of learning has been a mystery for centuries. Today neuro-science is using advances in technology to reveal the secrets of learning. So many children and adults are now being identified with learning issues including attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, speech / language impairments, and sensory integration dysfunction. Understanding our neurological system and what drives its development is crucial to unlocking the mystery of why learning is a struggle for some people.

We humans are sensory-motor beings. Our neurological systems develop sequentially through stimulation of the different sensory systems. Adequate signals from the sensory systems must be received, processed internally, and organized to generate a motor response. Learning is based, not in cognition, but as a response to sensory - motor systems that are well organized to receive, process, integrate and respond to information in the environment. Although there are many sensory systems involved in the neurological system, this article will focus on the three sensory systems that are critical for development of efficient learning skills.

The vestibular system is the primary sensory system. This is the sensory system that monitors balance. The vestibular system is found next to the inner ear and is part of the middle ear structure. The auditory ear and the vestibular system are one unit found inside the skull beside the outer ear structure. The vestibular system consists of two small units called the utricle and the saccule which monitor the transverse (side-to-side) movement of the head and three semi-circular canals which monitor the rotational movement of the head. The three semi-circular canals are set up to provide information on the vertical, the horizontal and the diagonal planes. The vestibular system is the foundation upon which all other sensory systems are built.

In the womb, by 12 weeks, a baby’s vestibular system is already receiving information regarding the baby’s motion. At six months, the vestibular and auditory systems are fully functional. These two sensory systems pave the way for the neurological development of the entire sensory - motor system. The vestibular system is the foundation of all movement and of vision. It provides critical information for the motor systems of the body to respond to motion. Poor coordination, poor motor skills, poor visual processing, weaknesses in memory, delays in processing, and poor overall learning ability are all indicators of vestibular system dysfunction. Poor organization of the vestibular system negatively impacts all sensory systems for learning.

Slow motor skills are not the only indicator of vestibular system dysfunction. Very quick motor responses may also indicate vestibular system dysfunction. Both slow and quick responses are extreme responses and suggest an inability of the vestibular system to organize adequately. The hyperactive person must keep moving to keep the vestibular system engaged. This person may excel in sports because of their physical quickness, but they may struggle with learning because learning requires that the system be able to organize its responses at a variety of speeds. The person with delayed motor responses may often be identified with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) while the person who is very quick may be identified with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADDH).

The auditory system is the second primary sensory system important in developing neurological system organization. Again, by 12 weeks in the womb, the fetus is processing sound, and by 6 months the auditory nerve is fully functional. The vestibular and auditory systems play critical roles in the development of neurological organization in the body and brain.

Language is learned through the auditory system. We learn the sounds of our language, the words of our language, and the rules of grammar as a set of auditory patterns. We learn to speak by matching a motor pattern to an auditory pattern. To develop good readers, we must first understand the role of the auditory system in learning. All aspects of a spoken language are perceived through the auditory system. Language is the code we use to describe what we see, how we feel, what we hear, and what we experience. Deficits in the ability to use language adequately greatly impact a child's learning performance both in and out of the classroom.

Ear infections, sinus infections and allergies that can result in long-term fluid retention in the middle ear and this chronic fluid retention results in the development of a slowed auditory system. Perception of speech is impaired as the brain “wires” to sound transmitted through thick liquid. This results in poor motor organization for speech and can result in articulation errors and imprecise speech.

Poor auditory perceptual processing is one basis for reading difficulties as evidenced by the inability to learn phonics or to decode words adequately. It is not the ability of the ear to "hear" but rather what the brain does with the signal that matters. Either perception or processing of the speech signal is impaired. When a child cannot "perceive" the sounds in words, blend sounds into words, separate sounds in words, or isolate and manipulate sounds in words, he will have difficulty with reading. These are pre-requisite auditory skills necessary for a child to learn to decode and read adequately.

The visual system is the third primary sensory system that must be intact for efficient learning. The visual motor system requires an intact vestibular system. The vestibular system is the foundation for the development of all motor systems. Any issues in the organization of the vestibular system will result in difficulties in visual perception, organization and processing. The focal system and the peripheral system are the two basic processes of the visual system. The focal system focuses our eyes on some specific item or detail. It tells us "what" something is. The peripheral system gives us information about the space around us and specifically gives us information regarding motion. It tells us "where" something is in space. Both of these systems must work efficiently by themselves and they must also communicate information in a very integrated manner to form an efficient visual system.

An example of how these two aspects of the visual system work together involves the act of reading. Our focal system identifies the letters and the words. A fluent reader will "focus" on the first word on a line while the peripheral system "sees" the next 3 or 4 words on the line and prepares the brain to identify them. Another example is the act of catching a ball. The focal system catches the ball in a moment to identify "what" is coming. The peripheral system then takes over to monitor the motion of the ball through space and tells the brain where to place the hands to "catch' it. Visual processing deficits may be the cause for many people who struggle with learning and reading. Vision leads language in that we talk about what we see and experience. Deficits in visual perception and processing impact the use of language, our primary tool for learning in the classroom. A well functioning integrated visual system will be seen in the child who is a fluent reader easily recognizing letters and words, and can catch or hit a ball easily. Headaches, tired, itchy eyes, and not liking to read are often indicators of visual system dysfunction.

As sensory - motor systems, we humans are driven by the forces of gravity, sound, and light. The vestibular system measures our response to gravity. The auditory system responds to wavelengths of sound, and the visual system responds to wavelengths of light. Any disruption in these sensory systems will significantly impact an individual's ability to receive, process, and respond appropriately to sensory information. Not only do these systems have to function well, they must function well together. Any delay in one system will cause delays in the other systems. Synchronization becomes a critical element in the efficient functioning of the neurological system. Learning is directly linked to how well this sensory-motor-learning system receives and processes information and how well the systems integrate information together in a timely manner.