The Learning Scientists

View Original

Weekly Digest #111: Nutrition and the Brain

We have published digests on the importance of exercise and sleep, but we have never compiled a digest on the importance of good nutrition for learning. In today's digest, we compile 3 blog posts, a podcast, and an interactive lesson on nutrition and the brain.

1) GUEST POST: Does Attention (or Inattention) Begin in Our Brains?!
By Mary Kathryn Cancilliere

In this guest post on our blog, former Rhode Island College student Mary Cancilliere discusses the effects of consuming different types of iron on attention and ADHD.

2) Nutrition has benefits for brain network organization, new research finds
By Liz Ahlberg Touchstone

Screenshot from linked source

This article describes a study by Dr. Barbey at the University of Illinois that examines the complex relationship between nutrition, intelligence, and functional network connectivity in the brain. 

3) Breakfast enhances cognition in children and adolescents
By Pippa Wysong

Screenshot from linked source

We all know that we're supposed to eat breakfast, and make sure our kids do so as well - but here's a summary of a meta-analysis demonstrating why this is important from an educational perspective.

4) Episode 10: How does food affect our brain?
Nutritional Neuroscience with Miguel Mateas @miguelmateas

In this podcast episode, nutrition practitioner / clinical neuroscientist / nutritional doctoral candidate Miguel Mateas discusses how the different foods we eat affect our brains.

5) How the food you eat affects your brain
By Mia Nacamulli

This one is a TED talk, and the title says it all!


Every Sunday, we pick a theme and provide a curated list of links. If you have a theme suggestion, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Occasionally we publish a guest digest, and If you'd like to propose a guest digest click here. Our 5 most recent digests can be found here:

Weekly Digest #106: Learning to Manage Your Own Finances

Weekly Digest #107: Spiral Review

Weekly Digest #108: What Can We Learn From High-Performing Education Systems?

Weekly Digest #109: Burnout

Weekly Digest #110: Creativity in Unlikely Places