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Implications of Neuroimaging for Educational Research

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Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology

Abstract

Neural functions are fundamental to learning, instruction, and performance. Although tremendous progress has been made in neuroscience in the past two decades, its applications in educational research are just beginning to be realized. This review focuses on selected technologies, methods, and findings from neuroscience that have important implications for educational sciences. Specifically, this chapter discusses conceptual and empirical research on the use, implications, and limitations of neuroimaging techniques such as continuous electroencephalography, event-related potentials, and functional magnetic resonance imaging in the domains of language and reading, mathematics learning, problem solving, cognitive load, and affective processes in learning. Neuroimaging has enabled scientists to open “the black box” of neural activity that underlies learning. It seems timely, therefore, to consider how educational researchers may employ the increased understanding of brain function to explore educational questions.

Nicht das Gehirn denkt, sondern wir denken das Gehirn

(The brain does not think, we think the brain.)

Friedrich Nietzsche

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Acknowledgements

Pavlo Antonenko is grateful to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for providing financial support for a portion of this work (#NNX10AV03A and #NNX08AJ14A).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Teaching and Learning, University of Florida, 117048, Gainesville, FL, 32611-7048, USA

    Pavlo D. Antonenko

  2. Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Woudestein T13-20, 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Tamara van Gog & Fred Paas

  3. Interdisciplinary Educational Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Fred Paas

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  1. Pavlo D. Antonenko
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Correspondence to Pavlo D. Antonenko .

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  1. , Department of Learning Technologies, C, University of North Texas, North Elm 3940, Denton, 76207-7102, Texas, USA

    J. Michael Spector

  2. W. Sunset Blvd. 1812, St. George, 84770, Utah, USA

    M. David Merrill

  3. , Centr. Instructiepsychol.&-technologie, K.U. Leuven, Andreas Vesaliusstraat 2, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Jan Elen

  4. Research Drive, Iacocca A109 111, Bethlehem, 18015, Pennsylvania, USA

    M. J. Bishop

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Antonenko, P.D., van Gog, T., Paas, F. (2014). Implications of Neuroimaging for Educational Research. In: Spector, J., Merrill, M., Elen, J., Bishop, M. (eds) Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3185-5_5

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